Making Work Accessible: Understanding Access to Work

Work should be a place where everyone has the chance to succeed. But, for people living with disabilities or long-term health conditions, the workplace can sometimes present barriers that make it harder to thrive.

This is where Access to Work comes in: a government programme designed to provide the right support at the right time. Essentially, helping individuals to overcome obstacles and giving employers the right tools they need to build inclusive, supportive workplaces.

What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a government scheme that helps people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or additional needs get the practical support they need in the workplace. The aim is simple: to make sure that everyone has an equal chance to succeed in their job.

Support can look different for each person, because it's tailored to individual needs. It could mean funding for specialist equipment, help with travel to and from work, a support worker, or even job coaching to build confidence. For some, it's about having the right technology to communicate effectively; for others, it's about having someone by their side to provide day-to-day assistance.

Whatever the support looks like, the goal is always the same: to remove barriers so people can focus on what they do best.

Why It Matters

Access to Work can make a life-changing difference. For employees, it can mean being able to arrive at work with confidence, knowing that the right support is in place. Instead of worrying about the barriers, they can focus on their skills, their passions, and their contribution. That boost in independence and self-belief often spills over into other areas of life, too.

But this scheme can be just as valuable for employers too. It helps to create workplaces where people feel supported and included, which leads to stronger teams, higher morale, and fresh perspective. It also means financial support for adjustments, making inclusion more accessible for businesses of all sizes.

When the right support is in place, everybody benefits. Employees feel valued and capable, while employers gain loyal, motivated team members who can thrive in their roles.

Through our work with Tarka Yard and McIsla Recruitment, we've seen the difference that Access to Work support can make. For supported employees, having a support worker alongside them often means the difference between struggling in silence and thriving with confidence. It helps people settle into their roles, build skills step by step, and feel reassured knowing there's someone to turn to when things get challenging. That kind of support lays the groundwork for people to show their true abilities at work.

How DES Helps

Navigating schemes like Access to Work can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you're new to the process. That's where Disability Engagement Services comes in. We guide both employers and employees through the application process, making sure that the right support is identified and put in place.

Working closely with partners like McIsla Recruitment and Tarka Yard, we help to source and coordinate support workers so that individuals can thrive in their roles. Our team makes sure that support is matched to each person's unique needs, so that it feels manageable, empowering, and sustainable.

We do more than just handle the paperwork. For us, it's about making sure that people have the confidence and the resources to succeed at work, and that employers feel supported in creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine.

Building Inclusive Futures

Access to Work can be a lifeline. It can help to open doors, build confidence, and ensure that everyone has the chance to succeed in the workplace. With the right support in place, individuals can focus on their strengths, employers can build more inclusive teams, and communities can grow stronger, together.

At DES, we're incredibly proud to be able to play a part in making that happen. By guiding people through the process and working with our partners to put the right support in place, we're helping to create workplaces where ability is celebrated and barriers are broken down.

Do you want to learn more about Access to Work, or explore how DES can help? Get in touch with us today, or follow along on our Facebook or Instagram pages to see more stories of inclusion in action.