The government has launched its new Pathways to Work Innovation Fund to develop and test innovative approaches that support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to move towards, enter, stay and progress in work.

The PtW Innovation Fund will support ambitious and practical proposals such as:

• a new use of technology
• a new service, intervention, product or delivery model
• a new partnership or way of working that can join-up across the system and make it work better for people
• an approach that helps employers to support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
• applying an existing intervention or product in a significantly different context, labour market or with a new target group

Applications can be made by public-sector organisations, businesses, voluntary and community organisations, and partnerships.

There is no minimum or maximum grant amount that organisations can apply for. Up to £10 million is available for the first funding round; up to a further £50 million will be available for the second funding round, which is expected to open to bids early in 2027.

Focus of fund/fund aims:

Grants for innovative approaches to supporting people with disabilities and health conditions into work

Application deadline:

Round 1: 26 October 2026. Round 2: tbc

Fund description:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pathways-to-work-innovation-fund