Shaw Trust tops 'Pathways to Work' league tables

Shaw Trust, the UK’s largest third sector provider of employment services, secured the most jobs for clients in England on the Government’s now-defunct Provider-Led Pathways to Work Programme, according to new figures released today by the Department of Work and Pensions.

DWP’s final Official Statistics for Pathways to Work show that the Chippenham-based charity secured 18,840 jobs for clients in England, beating a number of private sector organisations. Shaw Trust was also the top regional provider, its work in Greater Manchester East and West helping over 6,000 people into jobs. Pathways to Work, which ran from April 2008 to April 2011, was a national back-to-work programme available to all customers claiming incapacity benefits and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in Great Britain.

Chris Melvin, interim Chief Executive of Shaw Trust, said: “We’re delighted that DWP’s figures recognise how successful Shaw Trust was in delivering Pathways to Work in England. The tailored support we provided to our clients not only helped nearly 20,000 people into work but it also changed lives.”

“The news is a great boost for Shaw Trust in our work delivering Work Choice and Work Programme, and underlines how vital the role of the third sector is in supporting disabled and disadvantaged people into employment.”


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Notes to editors

Shaw Trust is the largest third sector provider of employment services in the UK. The Trust, set up in 1982, helps people with disability or disadvantage to find and stay in work. We do this through the delivery of government programmes such as Work Choice and the new Work Programme, but also through our own self-funded initiatives and by campaigning to change attitudes towards disabled and disadvantaged people. Across the UK more than 1,600 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

For further media information, please contact Gareth Nicholson on 07540 558258

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