Future Employment Support (FES) expression of interest

Two people talking - future employment support (FES)

Let's work together for good work

Future Employment Support (FES) expression of interest
With the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) FES programme launching in 2028, we’re preparing for procurement and would like to hear from organisations who want to work with us.

We’re keen to connect with:

  • employability and skills providers
  • local charities, community groups and social enterprises
  • disability, health and wellbeing organisations
  • mental health and neurodiversity specialists
  • housing and homelessness providers
  • complex needs providers
  • employer engagement and recruitment specialists
  • organisations supporting under-represented groups and communities

If you know your community well, have strong local connections and want to help people overcome barriers to good work, we’d love to hear from you.

Complete our partner registration form

What we know so far

FES is expected to:

  • provide personalised job support to people on Universal Credit who are out of work
  • help people overcome barriers to work and move into long-term employment
  • be delivered in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, local authorities and Mayoral strategic authorities
  • ask providers to show how local services and networks work together for joined-up support
  • offer a mix of face-to-face and digital support
  • include a mandatory requirement that at least 25% of contract spending is delivered through SMEs.
Register as a partner today

Why partner with Shaw Trust?

We’re the UK’s largest employment charity, supporting more than 270,000 people into good work in 2024/25.

From Connect to Work to WorkWell and IPS, we’ve got a track record of delivering employment, health and skills programmes at scale – all across the country. Our ways of working with suppliers have also been recognised with an Outstanding rating by the Supply Chain Partnership Standard.

We build strong relationships with employers, community organisations, local charities and support services. This in turn means we can mobilise quickly, drawing on our local expertise, strong infrastructure and experienced supply chain. Ultimately, we give people the right support at the right time, so they find the right jobs for them.

Partner with us

How we'll work with you

 We know the best results come from strong partnerships. We aim to:

  • build open and positive working relationships
  • manage our supply chain fairly and transparently
  • involve partners early in service design and development
  • focus on quality, performance and positive outcomes for participants
  • build social value through local delivery.

How to get involved

If you’re interested in partnering with us, please fill out our partner registration form by 15 September 2026. This will help us understand your expertise and make sure you’re considered as part of our ongoing partnership and market engagement activities.

We’ll then review submissions and make our initial partner selection by 31 October 2026.

To find out more, email partnerships@shaw-trust.org.uk

Fill in our referral form

Frequently asked questions

It’s a new DWP programme launching in 2028 that will help people move off benefits and into work. Support is matched to people’s needs and local labour markets.

We’re currently preparing for the procurement and are keen to speak with organisations who can help deliver high-quality, locally responsive services.

Those who are out of work and on Universal Credit. It will focus on helping them overcome barriers to finding and keeping work.

FES will cover a range of support from skills training to job searching and employer engagement. Full details are still being developed, but you can find out more on DWP’s website.

It’s expected to build on existing employment support through a more personalised approach. This means it will reflect the needs of local people and their wider communities, while being shaped by local services, employers and support networks.

It will create a more joined-up experience for participants by bringing Jobcentre Plus, local authorities and mayoral strategic authorities together.

DWP recognises the value of local expertise and specialist support, and aims for at least 25% of contract spend to be delivered through SMEs.

The current timeline suggests FES will launch in early 2028. However, dates may change.

We’d love to hear from organisations that can bring specialist expertise, strong community connections and a deep understanding of local needs. By registering your interest now, you’ll be helping us shape a delivery model that reflects the needs of local communities and creates opportunities for people to move into good work.