Department for Work and Pensions

Pathways to Work Innovation Fund

A UK-wide government grant fund to test new or significantly different ways of helping disabled people and people with long-term health conditions move towards work, get a job, stay in work or progress at work. It is open to charities, social enterprises, CICs, businesses, universities and public bodies, alone or in partnership, and there is no minimum or maximum grant; up to £10 million is available in this first round (up to £50 million more is expected in a second round in early 2027). Projects must generate learning about what works, run for up to 12 months, and are paid mainly in arrears against milestones.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £1 – £10,000,000
Closes in: 8 days left; 26 October
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Organisations legally established and based in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, including registered charities and voluntary organisations, social enterprises and CICs, companies and other private sector organisations, universities and research organisations, schools/educational establishments, and public sector bodies including local authorities and mayoral strategic authorities
Central UK Government departments cannot apply
Organisations can apply alone or in a partnership or consortium with one lead applicant, who submits the application, manages the grant and receives payments to pass on to partners; all partners must meet the eligibility rules
Individuals cannot lead or apply alone but can be a partner
Applicants must confirm proportionate governance and oversight, safeguarding, data protection, whistleblowing, fraud and anti-corruption and conflict-of-interest arrangements; be legally and financially able to receive and account for public money and sign a non-negotiable Grant Funding Agreement (not bankrupt or under investigation); and be able to take part in monitoring, evaluation and learning
No previous experience of employment support or government funding is needed, and existing DWP grant holders can apply
Due diligence, including a Spotlight check, is run after application

What it funds

Projects that test something new or significantly different to support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions in at least one of: moving towards or preparing for work, entering work, staying in work, or making progress at work.

Innovation can be a new use of technology
A new service, intervention, product or delivery model
A new partnership or way of working across the system
An approach that helps employers support disabled people
Applying an existing intervention in a significantly different place, labour market or group

It does not have to involve technology or cover the whole UK, and only part of a project needs to be innovative.

Eligible costs include developing and testing new interventions, products or technology, user research and co-design, project delivery, staff, volunteer and participant costs directly related to the project, equipment and specialist support, partnership activity, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

There is no minimum or maximum request; projects must be delivered within 12 months of signing the Grant Funding Agreement and funding is available up to the end of March 2028.

What it will not fund

Continuing to deliver an existing service without a significantly different approach
Expanding existing support, or making minor changes to it, without a significant learning opportunity
Existing business-as-usual costs
Replacing funding already promised to the project from another source
Costs not directly related to the funded project or incurred outside the funded period
Activity before the Grant Funding Agreement is signed
Applications from individuals on their own (individuals can only take part as a partner in an organisation's application)
Applications from central UK Government departments

How to apply

Read the Applicant Bid Pack and FAQs on GOV.UK and check your organisation and idea are eligible; the bid pack includes all the application questions so you can draft answers in advance
Optionally, join the Partnership Directory (via a Partnership Interest Form) to find partners, and attend DWP's weekly online drop-in sessions between 28 September and 26 October 2026
Complete the application through the online Application Portal (launching in early October 2026; a Start new application link is on Find a Grant); in the meantime a downloadable application form can be submitted by email or post
Complete and upload the mandatory Budget Template and Delivery Plan and Milestones Template, plus up to three optional supporting documents
Submit before 11:59pm on 26 October 2026; applications cannot be changed once submitted
Applicants are told whether they have been shortlisted by 9 November 2026; unsuccessful applicants receive feedback
Shortlisted applicants can attend optional one-to-one refinement sessions (16 to 27 November 2026) and submit a refined application between 27 November and 4 December 2026
Final decisions are communicated from January 2027; successful projects sign the Grant Funding Agreement and can begin mobilisation from February 2027

Each idea needs a separate application. DWP cannot discuss individual project ideas before an application is submitted.

Payments are made monthly in arrears against milestones (at most one payable milestone per month); a mobilisation payment of up to 30% can be requested but is approved only in exceptional circumstances. Funded projects give a short monthly update and a quarterly report.

Postal applications go to Pathways to Work Innovation Fund, Ernst & Young, 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF. Easy Read, large print, Braille, audio, BSL and Welsh versions are available.

Have ready

Completed application form (online portal, or downloadable form by email or post)
Budget Template
Delivery Plan and Milestones Template

Up to three optional supporting documents may be added, such as research, evidence of potential impact, user research or letters of support. Evidence of governance and finances is not needed at application but may be requested after assessment.

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