Ways Into Work

What Ways Into Work does

Ways Into Work is a UK-based supported employment charity operating from Maidenhead, Berkshire with a secondary office in Slough. It serves people with learning disabilities, autism, and other disabilities or mental health conditions, supporting approximately 450 individuals per year through employment-focused interventions. The organisation traces its service lineage to a council-run programme established around 2005, was formalised as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2015, and converted to registered charitable status in 2024 under Charity Number 1208138. It employs approximately 35 staff and works with roughly 150–231 employer partners and six local authority commissioners.

The core service portfolio comprises Supported Employment, Supported Internships, Recruitment, Workplace Support, and Training & Consultancy, delivered through BASE-accredited methodologies and supported by trainers and Employment Coaches with lived experience. The model matches candidates to roles and provides ongoing workplace support, with reported outcomes of 64 new jobs and 89% retention in the most recent reporting year. Pathways are fed by partnerships with schools, colleges, and local authorities, while employers engage through a tiered membership structure (Bronze £1k, Silver £2.5k, Gold £5k) and training cohorts (~£50 per participant, group sizes 10–16).

Revenue is generated primarily through local authority contracts (six councils), supplemented by grants, corporate membership fees, training income, and social enterprise trading via Barista & Beyond, a café established through a crowdfunding campaign that raised approximately £11,000. In 2026 the organisation launched The Opportunity Circle, a corporate partnership platform with OCU Group as founding member, and CEO Maurice George was appointed Chair of BASE (British Association for Supported Employment). Strategic priorities visible in recent activity include geographic expansion via retender wins, diversification away from LA concentration, and elevation of the organisation's profile within the national supported employment sector.

Name

Ways Into Work

Legal name

Ways Into Work CIC

Website

https://www.waysintowork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ways Into Work is a UK supported employment charity, based in Maidenhead and Slough, that helps people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions into work through coaching, internships, and employer partnerships across roughly 150–231 employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Services (5613), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Supported employment services
• Disability employment support
• Supported internship programs
• Workplace inclusion consulting
• Disability awareness training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkshire

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Contracts: Commissioning contracts with 6 local authorities (Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Hampshire, Slough, Reading, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest) to provide supported employment services
2. Educational Partnerships: Partnerships with schools and colleges (Manor Green School, Brookfields School, Castle Post 16 School, Reading College, Newbury College) for supported internship programmes
3. Training & Consultancy Services: Disability Awareness Training delivered online or in person at £50 per person, with bespoke consultancy services. ONLINE courses cost £50 per person, minimum 10 attendees, maximum 16
4. Grant Funding: Funding from National Lottery Community Fund, European Social Fund, Blagrave Trust, Berkeley Homes Foundation, and local projects such as Building Better Opportunities
5. Corporate Partnership Memberships: Opportunity Circle corporate partnership programme with Bronze (£1,000), Silver (£2,500), and Gold (£5,000) annual membership tiers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ways Into Work is a charity delivering evidence-based supported employment services in South East England. It helps people with disabilities or other barriers to employment gain and retain paid work using the Place, Train and Maintain methodology delivered by qualified Employment Coaches. Offerings include supported employment, supported internships, recruitment support, ongoing workplace support, and disability awareness training for employers and commissioners across Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire.

Product overview

Ways Into Work is a charity providing supported employment services in South East England. The organisation operates a portfolio of interconnected services centred on Supported Employment, which uses an evidence-based model to help people with disabilities or other barriers secure and retain paid work. The core offerings include Supported Employment (place, train and maintain), Supported Internships (including the Route to Recruit programme for young people aged 16-24 with EHCPs), Recruitment services connecting employers with motivated candidates, Workplace Support with qualified Employment Coaches, and Training & Consultancy including Disability Awareness Training. The organisation also runs The Opportunity Circle corporate partnership programme and is developing Barista & Beyond, a social enterprise café. Services are delivered across Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire with approximately 35 staff supporting around 150 employers and 450 individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Route to Recruit: Supported Internship programme name - a partnership between Ways into Work, Activate Learning (Reading College), Brookfields and Addington SEN Schools providing workplace-based training for young people with SEN and EHCP plans.
• Wood to Work
• Barista & Beyond
• The Opportunity Circle

Products and services

• Supported Employment Evidence-based person-centred service using the Place, Train and Maintain approach delivered by qualified Employment Specialists and Coaches to help people with disabilities or disadvantages secure and retain paid employment.
• Supported Internships Unpaid study programmes for young people aged 16-24 with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), combining workplace learning with educational support to transition participants from education into employment.
• Recruiting Talent Employer-focused recruitment service connecting businesses with motivated job seekers who have disabilities or disadvantages, offering work trials, job matching, and adjustments to the recruitment process.
• Workplace Support Time-unlimited hands-on workplace support for both employees with disabilities and their employers, including job coaching, reasonable adjustments advice, Access to Work applications, visual aids, and performance meeting support.
• Training and Consultancy Disability awareness training and bespoke consultancy delivered by trainers with lived experience, including 90-minute Introduction to Disability Awareness courses, Reasonable Adjustments workshops, and tailored advisory services for businesses, commissioners, and education providers.
• The Opportunity Circle Exclusive corporate partnership club with Bronze (£1,000), Silver (£2,500), and Gold (£5,000) annual membership tiers offering networking events, fundraising challenges, and collaborative learning sessions for employers committed to inclusive employment.
• Barista & Beyond Social enterprise café project developed in partnership with New Directions College in Reading, intended to provide work experience and employment opportunities for adults with special educational needs and disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of clients retained in work
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• OCU GroupflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026OCU Group is the first founding member of The Opportunity Circle, Ways into Work's exclusive corporate partnership club. Provides energy transformation and utilities infrastructure services with strong commitment to social value and inclusive employment. Has hosted mock interviews helping young people build confidence and skills.
• Oxford Wood RecyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Wood to Work partnership launched in October 2021 between Ways into Work, Oxford Wood Recycling, and Oxfordshire Employment. Oxford Wood Recycling is a social enterprise offering voluntary work experience to Ways into Work clients in recycled timber and carpentry activities, helping build CVs and employment skills.
• Oxfordshire EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Wood to Work partnership with Oxfordshire Employment (part of Oxfordshire County Council) to help individuals around South Oxfordshire with health or disability barriers enter employment.
• Activate Learning (Reading College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoute to Recruit Supported Internship programme partnership between Ways into Work, Activate Learning (Reading College), Brookfields School, and Addington SEN School. Ways into Work manages the programme and provides qualified Job Coaches.
• Brookfields SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Route to Recruit programme providing supported internships for young people with SEN and EHCP.
• Addington SEN SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Route to Recruit programme providing supported internships for young people with SEN and EHCP.
• Royal Borough of Windsor & MaidenheadcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work.
• Hampshire County CouncilcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work.
• Slough Borough CouncilcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work.
• Reading Borough CouncilcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work.
• West Berkshire CouncilcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work. Partnership includes West Berkshire Supported Internship programme.
• Bracknell Forest CouncilcoreOthersOne of 6 local authorities commissioning supported employment services from Ways into Work.
• New Directions CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Reading Borough Council for Barista & Beyond café project. Provides off-site education and training for potential café staff, teaching food products, drinks preparation, and till system use in a learning environment.
• Elevate BerkshireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal project as part of national initiatives. Ways into Work was a top performing partner supporting over a hundred young adults with work outcomes.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shaw Trust: One of the UK's largest employment and disability charities, delivering supported employment, traineeships, and disability services across multiple regions. Directly comparable to Ways into Work in operating model and commissioning landscape, but with significantly greater national scale.
• Remploy: A long-standing UK supported employment provider focused on helping people with disabilities and health conditions into work. Highly comparable to Ways into Work's Place, Train & Maintain methodology and employer-facing recruitment services.
• The Poppy Factory: A Surrey-based charity delivering supported employment for veterans with disabilities using an evidence-based employment model. Closely comparable in methodology (Place, Train & Maintain) and in operating as a specialist supported-employment charity in the South East.
• Leonard Cheshire: A major UK disability charity providing employment support, supported internships, and disability awareness programmes. Comparable through its Routes to Work and employment services, though operating at national scale and broader disability remit.
• United Response: A national charity supporting people with disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental health needs, including employment services and job coaching. Comparable to Ways into Work in supported employment methodology and commissioner relationships.
• DFN Project Search: A UK-wide supported internship programme for young people with learning disabilities and autism, delivered in partnership with education providers and host employers. Directly comparable to Ways into Work's Route to Recruit supported internship programme.

Broad incumbents

• Scope: A large UK disability charity providing employment support, disability awareness training, and workplace advice. Overlaps with Ways into Work's employer-facing services but operates as a broad national incumbent across all disability areas rather than a specialist employment provider.
• Mencap: The UK's leading learning disability charity, running employment programmes and disability awareness training. Comparable in serving the same candidate population and offering employer training, but at much larger national scale and with broader disability remit.
• National Autistic Society: A national disability charity providing employment support and workplace adjustments guidance for autistic people. Overlaps with Ways into Work's employer-facing services and reasonable adjustments training, but operates across all autism-related services nationally.

Emerging players

• Richmond Fellowship (Turning Point): A provider of mental health and employment support services across the UK. Partial overlap with Ways into Work through employment support for people facing barriers to work, but focused more on mental health than learning or physical disabilities.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waysintoworkcic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ways Into Work