Major milestone for new programme offering employment support to thousands in Cumbria

3 November 2025

A new programme that aims to reach 3,000 people across Cumbria with employment support has passed another important milestone.

The Cumbria Connect to Work programme has confirmed the appointment of a Service Co-ordinator for a contract worth nearly £10m for up to five years starting in early 2026.

Leading Cumbria-based employment support charity Inspira has been appointed to deliver Connect to Work across the county. Inspira will be working closely with both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils through Enterprising Cumbria to mobilise the programme ahead of its planned launch in January.

Inspira has 25 years of experience working on similar programmes and a strong track record in successfully supporting people into employment. The Department for Work and Pensions is funding local councils to run Connect to Work across the country. It offers up to 12 months of supported employment to those who are out of work due to their health, disability or circumstances. It will also support those who are in a job, but struggling with their health.

Eligibility for the programme, which is set to launch in January, will be for those who are disabled or have a long-term health condition, or who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to their circumstances, for example, because they are a carer, care experienced, survivor of domestic abuse or ex-offender.
 
Participants will be offered up to 12 months of support with the aim of placing them in a real job at an early stage, and then ensuring they have the support and training to sustain their work. Inspira will be responsible for day-to-day operations, ensuring that Connect to Work reaches all areas of Cumbria.

Council leaders welcomed the contract award. Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, said, “We know that Inspira has in-depth knowledge and experience of supporting Cumbrian people into employment. We are looking forward to working with them on this flagship
programme for our county. This successful implementation of Connect to Work will lead to economic benefits, and will benefit our families and communities through the increased prosperity that work brings.”

Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
“We are really pleased with this outcome. Inspira will be an excellent partner to the councils and Enterprising Cumbria in the roll-out of Connect to Work. As well as taking collective action on economic 
inactivity, it helps our businesses with recruiting and retaining new
workers.”

Isobel Brown, Programme Director of Enterprising Cumbria, which works to boost economic development across Cumbria, said,“We were delighted with the number of high-quality bids that were submitted for the Service Co-ordinator contract. Following a rigorous evaluation exercise, we are confident that Inspira brings a great deal of expertise that we can all benefit from as we develop and implement the programme.”

Inspira Chief Executive Mark Bowman said, “We are thrilled to be awarded the Service Co-ordinator contract for Connect to Work in
Cumbria and can’t wait to get started. We have built our knowledge and expertise in how best to support people into employment over the last quarter century. Working with the councils and Enterprising Cumbria on this is a fantastic opportunity to give even more people
the help they need to achieve their career ambitions.”

Notes

  • In August 2025, Cumberland Council launched an open procurement exercise to award the contract for the Service Co-ordinator.
  • Following a thorough evaluation involving officers from both councils and Enterprising Cumbria, Cumberland Council has issued a letter confirming its intention to award the contract to Inspira Ltd.
  • Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Enterprising Cumbria have been working together to develop proposals for the delivery of the Connect to Work programme across the county.
  • This will be a grant of up to £11m 1 over five years from the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver supported employment to eligible participants who may be out of work or who are employed but at risk of losing their job.
  • Cumberland Council is the Accountable Body for the Grant Funding Agreement, with Westmorland and Furness as a Delivery Partner. Due to its established role in delivering economic development programmes across Cumbria, Enterprising Cumbria is responsible for operational management of Connect to Work.
  • Enterprising Cumbria has recruited a programme team to support the Service Co-ordinator in effectively mobilising and running Connect to Work who will start in November.

More information about Connect to Work can be found here: Connect to Work - GOV.UK and on the Enterprising Cumbria site here: Cumbria Connect to Work | Enterprising Cumbria