Shaw Trust Limited(the)

What Shaw Trust Limited(the) does

Shaw Trust Limited is a UK not-for-profit charity and social enterprise operating the country's largest employment-focused charitable group, employing 2,900+ staff and supporting 270,000-340,000+ people annually. The organisation delivers employment, education, health, justice, accessibility and children's residential care services to people facing barriers to work — primarily individuals with disabilities and health conditions, young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), looked-after children and justice-involved individuals — alongside programmes for refugees, migrants and people with mental health conditions.

Core service delivery is built on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) methodology, an evidence-based approach that integrates work and health support; Shaw Trust is Britain's largest IPS provider outside the NHS, with outcome data covering 19,000+ participants demonstrating 73% sustained employment at 13 weeks, 68% at 26 weeks, and a return on investment of £2.43 in year 1 rising to £9.22 over three years per £1 spent. The technology stack additionally includes a WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2) digital accessibility accreditation service delivered to organisations such as Good Energy, Motability and Enfield Council. Operations are organised through a group of wholly-owned subsidiaries including Homes2Inspire (the UK's largest not-for-profit residential children's home provider), Ixion and Prospects (employment and skills training), Shaw Education Trust (multi-academy trust managing 31 schools, now an independent strategic partner since September 2025), Optimus Education, and the Disabled Living Foundation, supported by a network of high-street charity retail shops.

Revenue is generated predominantly through multi-year government commissioning contracts with the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS Integrated Care Boards, local authorities and Combined Authorities, supplemented by charity retail operations and the commercial Shaw Trust Accessibility Services arm. Services to individual participants are provided free at point of use, with the employer-facing accessibility accreditation operating on a paid basis. The organisation is registered as a charity in England and Wales (number 287785) and Scotland (SC039856) and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee (company number 1744121).

Name

Shaw Trust Limited(the)

Legal name

Shaw Trust

Website

https://www.shawtrust.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shaw Trust is a UK not-for-profit charity and social enterprise, the country's largest in the employment sector, delivering government-commissioned employment, health, education, justice and children's residential care services to over 270,000 people annually through a network of wholly-owned subsidiary brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employment Support and Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Employment support services
• Disability employment programmes
• Supported internships
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Residential childcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldbury-on-severn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Commissioning: Shaw Trust receives funding through public sector contracts and commissioning arrangements with government bodies including DWP, local authorities, NHS, Integrated Care Boards, and Combined Authorities. These contracts fund employment programmes, health services, and social care delivery.
2. Charity Retail Operations: Shaw Trust operates charity shops across local communities in the UK, generating revenue through the sale of donated goods. The retail operations also serve as community touchpoints and volunteering opportunities.
3. Children's Residential Care Services: As the largest not-for-profit residential children's home provider in the UK, Shaw Trust generates revenue through local authority commissioning for looked after children services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Shaw Trust is the UK's largest not-for-profit employment charity and largest not-for-profit residential children's home provider. It delivers Individual Placement and Support (IPS), Connect to Work, WorkWell, Supported Internships, and other employment programmes commissioned primarily by government bodies (DWP, local authorities, NHS Integrated Care Boards). It also operates Homes2Inspire residential children's homes, a UK-wide charity retail network, Shaw Trust Accessibility Services (WCAG 2.2 accreditation), and a portfolio of subsidiary brands including Ixion, Prospects, and Optimus Education.

Product overview

Shaw Trust is a platform of social purpose programmes and subsidiary brands focused on removing barriers to employment and social inclusion. The core offering centers on Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services, including Connect to Work, WorkWell, Working Win, Thrive into Work, and IPS Together, which provide tailored employment support linking work and health. The portfolio includes Supported Internships and Steps into Work for young people with Education Health and Care Plans, and the Change Project/Reframe for youth mental health. Subsidiary brands include Homes2Inspire (UK's largest not-for-profit residential children's home provider), Ixion (skills and careers), Prospects (careers development), Shaw Education Trust, and Disabled Living Foundation. Shaw Trust Accessibility Services provides digital accessibility accreditation. The Shaw Trust Foundation handles participatory grant-making for disability employment initiatives. The organization also operates a network of charity retail shops and justice rehabilitation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Homes2Inspire: Residential children's homes provider - described as the largest not-for-profit residential children's home provider in the UK
• Ixion
• Prospects
• Living Made Easy
• Shaw Trust Accessibility Services
• Shaw Education Trust
• Optimus Education

Products and services

• Connect to Work

Quantifiable outcome

• 270,000+ people helped to access and stay in good work (September 2024 to August 2025)
• +15 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026IPS Focus service starting April 2026, taking over existing IPS service for people with serious mental health conditions. Commissioned by the BSW ICB to support people into work.
• Back Up TrustminorOthers · 12 February 2026Participatory grant of £50,000 awarded to Back Up, national charity helping people after spinal cord injury. Grant funds employment support service development offering peer-led guidance within NHS spinal centres, reaching at least 200 patients before discharge.
• Essex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Connect to Work contract commissioned by Essex County Council with DWP funding. Supports people with disabilities, health conditions and other disadvantages to find and stay in work through one-to-one coaching and job matching.
• West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Connect to Work contract commissioned by WMCA with DWP funding. Regional employment support programme for people with disabilities and health conditions.
• NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2025Commissioned IPS Together programme launched 1 July 2025, supporting people with severe and enduring mental health conditions. Service provides work and health support, career advice, benefits information, and acts as link between mental health teams and employers across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
• West London Alliance (WLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025First Connect to Work programme to launch, in partnership with West London Alliance. Shaw Trust leads delivery of integrated employment and health services, connecting local employment services with health support. WLA partnership spans multiple London boroughs including Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.
• Learning and Work InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2025Evaluation partner for £2m youth innovation trial targeting 18-24 year-olds with health-related inactivity. Embedded in test-and-learn approach rather than marking homework at end. Evaluating West London pilot expanding to rural settings over 18 months.
• LivityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2025Youth consultancy partnership for Reframe West London pilot. Working with young people not using public services to co-design solution for 600,000 'written off' young people with health barriers to employment.
• Hampshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025Commissioned Connect to Work programme to match services to local need, giving employers diverse talent pool while supporting residents with health conditions and disabilities. Includes MSK Trailblazers service providing gym membership, physiotherapy, and job coaching.
• Good EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025First energy supplier to achieve Shaw Trust Accessibility Accreditation for online customer portal and mobile app. Shaw Trust assessors with lived disability experience tested digital platforms against WCAG 2.2 guidelines.
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Pathways to Work initiative including Connect to Work Sheffield programme. Shaw Trust and South Yorkshire Housing Association deliver services on behalf of SYMCA, funded by UK Government. Supports region's 10-year Employment and Skills plan launched in 2025.
• OCSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 April 2024Regional recruitment activity partnership for inclusive recruitment at the NEC and Birmingham venues. Collaborative pathways created for stewarding, security, and venue cleaning roles through West London Alliance.
• Leonardo HotelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 April 2024Disability awareness training and support partnership. Shaw Trust presented to Leonardo Hotels staff on supporting guests with disabilities. Supported Leonardo Hotels (formerly Jurys Inn) to achieve Disability Confident Level 2 status, working toward Level 3. Leonardo Hotels and Atlas Hotels offer guaranteed interviews to Shaw Trust candidates.
• Optimus EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 October 2023Part of Shaw Trust Group, Optimus Education works with over 5,000 schools in 53 countries providing CPD training, conferences, awards, and guidance around mental health and wellbeing. Wellbeing Award evaluation showed 93% of 1,000+ schools agreed it improved staff wellbeing.
• Wiltshire Wildlife TrustminorOthers · 3 February 2023Collaboration to tackle climate change, restore nature, and help communities in Wiltshire. Launched Sloegrove Orchard at Green Lane Wood nature reserve in Trowbridge, funded by Shaw Trust.
• NHS Spinal Centres NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 January 2023Partnership with all UK NHS spinal centres for Back Up's peer-led employment guidance programme. Back Up will work with all centres to provide vocational support before discharge.
• Homes and Horizons Partnership (Somerset)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Somerset Council and NHS providing innovative residential care model for Somerset's most vulnerable young people. Partnership has opened eight homes, providing family-sized homes with focus on better educational results and improved mental health and wellbeing.
• Heathrow AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Supported internship placements with six of eight interns securing paid jobs at the airport or nearby sites. Partnership part of broader efforts to support young people with EHCPs into employment.
• Transport for LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Steps into Work supported internship scheme for young neurodivergent people. Between January 2021 and July 2023, supported 57 young people with 32 achieving paid employment. Participants work across TfL offices, stations, and piers.
• Multiple Employer Partners (Five Guys, Nando's, Morrisons, The Entertainer, Black Sheep Coffee, Sambrook's Brewery)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Employer network providing supported internship work placements across retail, hospitality, and other sectors. Employers offer structured placements, mentoring, and pathways to paid employment for young people with EHCPs.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ingeus: Ingeus is one of the UK's largest welfare-to-work and employment services providers, delivering DWP-commissioned programmes including Work and Health Programme and Restart. It directly competes with Shaw Trust for government contracts and shares the same target populations of people with disabilities and health conditions.
• Reed in Partnership: Reed in Partnership is a major UK provider of employment and skills programmes commissioned by DWP and local authorities. It is a direct competitor to Shaw Trust in the welfare-to-work space with overlapping programmes such as Restart and IPS.
• Seetec: Seetec is a UK employment, skills, and justice services provider delivering government-commissioned programmes including Restart. It directly competes with Shaw Trust for DWP and Ministry of Justice contracts serving similar disadvantaged populations.
• Maximus UK: Maximus delivers UK employment services under the Work and Health Programme and other DWP contracts, with a global parent providing experience in health and employment integration. It is a direct competitor to Shaw Trust in the welfare-to-work market.
• Catch22: Catch22 is a UK social business delivering employment, education, and justice services, operating on a model similar to Shaw Trust's 'charitable heart with a commercial brain'. It is a direct peer in social enterprise employment and youth services.
• Action for Children: Action for Children is a major UK children's charity providing fostering, residential care, and family support services, directly comparable to Shaw Trust's Homes2Inspire children's services arm.

Emerging players

• The Prince's Trust: The Prince's Trust is a major UK youth charity supporting young people into employment and education, directly comparable to Shaw Trust's youth and NEET-focused services. It overlaps significantly on the 16-24 NEET segment.
• Mencap: Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity, directly comparable to Shaw Trust's disability employment and supported internship services. It serves overlapping populations of people with learning disabilities and works with similar employer partners.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo (Justice Services): Sodexo operates justice and rehabilitation services in UK prisons and communities, comparable to Shaw Trust's rehabilitation and justice programmes. It is a larger, broader incumbent with overlapping capability in the Ministry of Justice commissioning space.
• British Red Cross: British Red Cross is a large UK charity providing community support, refugee services, and health-related social support. It is a broader incumbent with adjacent services in community health, refugee employability, and crisis intervention that overlap with several Shaw Trust programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/shawtrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/shawtrust
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/shaw-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/shaw_trust/?hl=en-gb
• TikToktiktok.com/tag/shawtrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries18 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 Shaw Trust Limited(the)