Department for Work and Pensions

Pathways to Work Innovation Fund

A Department for Work and Pensions grant fund, open to public, private and voluntary sector organisations across the UK, to test new ideas that help disabled people and people with long-term health conditions move towards, enter, stay and progress in work. Up to £10 million is available in the first round (up to £60 million across two rounds, with a second round expected in early 2027), with no set minimum or maximum per bid. Projects must be genuinely innovative and delivered within 12 months. The first round closes on 26 October 2026, with a shortlisting and refinement stage before awards from January 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified
Closes in: 8 days left; 26 October
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

UK-based organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors: charities and voluntary organisations, social enterprises and CICs, private businesses, academic and research organisations, and public bodies such as local authorities and mayoral strategic authorities, as well as partnerships and consortia
One organisation must be the lead applicant, responsible for submitting the bid and managing any funding
Applicants must be financially and legally able to receive, manage and account for public funding, and must not be bankrupt, under legal, regulatory or financial restrictions, or under investigation for fraud or serious regulatory breaches
Grants are paid in arrears against milestones (up to 30% upfront only in exceptional cases), so applicants need enough cash flow to deliver before claiming

What it funds

Costs to develop, test, deliver, monitor and evaluate an innovative proposal that supports disabled people and people with health conditions into and on in work. This can include:

New technology, equipment or AI solutions
New interventions, products, services or tools
New service models and partnerships
Tools to support employers
Existing interventions used in new contexts
User research and co-design
Project delivery and staff costs
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Partnership collaboration

Projects must be delivered within 12 months of signing the Grant Funding Agreement.

There is no minimum or maximum bid; applicants should request only what is needed, and DWP says a larger request is no more likely to be funded.

What it will not fund

Delivering an existing service without a significantly different approach
Expanding existing support without a significant learning opportunity
Minor changes to existing support without a significant learning opportunity
Existing business-as-usual costs
Direct applications from individuals (individuals can only take part as delivery partners)
Organisations not based in the UK

How to apply

Read the Innovation Fund guidance, applicant bid pack and FAQs
If working in partnership, agree a lead applicant; the Partnership Interest Form and partnership directory can help find partners
Complete the application form, the Budget Template and the Delivery Plan and Milestones Template
Submit through the online Application Portal by 26 October 2026
Applications are shortlisted and you may be contacted for clarification; shortlisting outcomes are due 9 November 2026
Shortlisted applicants refine their proposals (refinement sessions 16-27 November 2026) and submit a refined bid by 4 December 2026
Award decisions are made from January 2027, with grant agreements and delivery starting from February 2027

Before the portal launched in early October 2026, forms could be submitted by post or email; the fund is administered by Ernst & Young for DWP.

Accessible versions of the bid pack and forms (Welsh, Easy Read, large print, BSL, audio) and weekly drop-in sessions are available.

Have ready

Completed application form
Budget Template (Excel)
Delivery Plan and Milestones Template (Excel)

Up to three optional supporting documents can be added; supporting evidence is not required to apply.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.