Vol. 9 | DATE
Introduction from Helen Radcliffe
Hi everyone, thank you for all your very hard work over the past couple of months. The UKSPF teams have already exceeded the outputs targets for the whole programme which is fantastic news.
The Pre and Post 16 teams have been inundated with young people and are pulling out all the stops to support them.
DurhamEnable started Connect to Work delivery in October and played a key role in shaping the delivery across the NECA area, alongside winning a national innovation award.
The DurhamLearn teams have been focussing on adapting and developing learning to meet the very varied needs of our adult learners, SEND young people and apprentices and they are currently reviewing what the new Ofsted framework will mean for us.
The Central Team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to maximise the funding, bring new delivery providers into the programmes and keep all the admin. flowing. On top of all that, we had a great night at the DCC Awards with two Wins and a Highly Commended.
I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing Christmas with family and friends and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
The following showcases what’s been happening across DurhamEnable, DurhamWorks, and DurhamLearn
DurhamEnable
A Great Day for County Durham
On 2 February, DurhamEnable joined DWP and NECA at a Select Committee Roundtable at Hotel Indigo, showing what real partership working looks like across the county. A huge thank you goes to the amazing Hotel Indigo for always championing inclusive employment.
DurhamEnable were proud to be the only local authority supporting both participants and employers to attend and share their voices. The team made sure that everyone felt confident, included, and ready to share their stories.
The Select Committee praised the strong teamwork happening in County Durham and the real impact supported employment is having. Hearing directly from participants was a highlight, and the team at DurhamEnable are proud to have helped make that happen.
Inclusive Employment and Hotel Indigo
In December, DurhamEnable joined partners and employers at Hotel Indigo Durham for the latest Inclusive Employer Network (IEN) event. It was a brilliant morning full of inspiring stories and great conversations about the power of inclusive workplaces.
One of the highlights was hearing from the amazing team at Hotel Indigo. They spoke honestly about their commitment to inclusive recruitment and how giving people real chances to shine has transformed their workplace. Their passion definitely rubbed off on everyone there!
The DurhamEnable team were especially proud of Leanne, a Breakfast Server at Hotel Indigo and a supported employee with the service. She bravely shared her journey of growing in confidence, building new skills, and becoming a valued member of the team. Her story was heartfelt, inspiring, and a perfect reminder of why supported employment matters.
Celebrating Success at Primark
DurhamEnable are so proud to share that Imogen, part of the admin team at Primark and supported employee, has been named Colleague of the Quarter!
Imogen recently took part in our Supported Employment Interest Group, where she and her manager Amy spoke about their experiences.
Mel and Laura were also invited to Primark to chat with regional managers from across the UK and Europe. They delivered a session on:
- Supported Employment
- Inclusive Recruitment
- The Connect to Work programme
They also shared helpful resources, including the Voices of Supported Employment podcast and their YouTube channel packed with Lunch & Learn sessions and other useful materials. Feedback was fantastic, and it’s great to see their partnership with Primark grow stronger.
A huge well done to Imogen and thank you to Primark for championing inclusive employment!
Building New Partnerships with LIDL
DurhamEnable are excited to share some brilliant work happening with the LIDL Distribution Centre in Newton Aycliffe, who recently created a bespoke role for someone on the service’s Connect to Work programme.
This is a brand-new partnership for DurhamEnable and they’re already seeing the impact of LIDL’s commitment to inclusive employment.
A huge thank you to LIDL for embracing supported employment and recognising the value personalised roles bring to both individuals and the business. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
DurhamWorks
Update from the Employer Engagement Team
It’s been a busy few months! The DurhamWorks Employer Engagement Team has been out across the region meeting employers, strengthening partnerships, and creating new opportunities for young people.
The team has visited a wide range of organisations, from Durham University and Radisson Blu to Caddick Construction, DPD, GSK, and more. This has helped the team to better understand workforce needs and highlight the value DurhamWorks can bring.
They’ve supported Employability Days with Amazon, Caddick Construction, and Willmott Dixon, attended careers and apprenticeship events, and helped promote Durham County Council’s apprenticeships offer.
The team has also been busy networking at Business Durham events, the Durham Business Summit and The Future of Employer Engagement conference in Manchester, gathering new ideas and building strong national connections.
Collaboration has been key. The team has been working closely with delivery partners, Employability Durham, and DurhamEnable to bring guest speakers into sessions and offer joined-up support for participants.
A highlight this quarter was unveiling the new Employment Support Services banner at the Durham Business Summit – a great symbol of the teamwork growing across the council.
The team are ending the quarter with strong momentum and can’t wait to build on it throughout 2026!
Highlights from DurhamWorks Workplace Visits
DurhamWorks’ young people have had two brilliant workplace visits recently, one at Durham University and one at Hopetown Museum, each giving them hands-on experience, new skills and real insight into different career paths.
Sports Programme – Durham University
The young referees got a behind-the-scenes look at elite sport, touring top-class facilities and taking part in active sessions like table tennis, an inflatable assault course, strength and conditioning, and a leadership workshop.
Unexpected highlights include: meeting Premier League and Championship referees, watching Durham cricketers train, and even seeing England fast bowler Mark Wood in action!
They came away with boosted confidence, better communication and leadership skills, and fresh motivation for their refereeing journey.
Whitworth Academy – Hopetown Visit
Year 10s explored careers in the heritage sector, learning about museum history, front-of-house work, collections care and exhibition design. They also discovered how volunteering can build teamwork, communication and problem solving.
The visit helped students grow in confidence, understand professional behaviour, and see how their skills transfer into real workplaces.
Two very different visits both packed with inspiration, learning, and brilliant experiences for the young people!
DurhamWorks Youth Forums Amplify Young Voices at Regional Employment Event
On 20 March 2026, members of the DurhamWorks Youth Forums from Annfield Plain and Bishop Auckland attended the Amplifying Youth Voices in Employment regional roundtable at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
Organised by NE Youth and funded by the North East Combined Authority, the event brought together young people, employers, VCSE partners and policymakers to explore barriers to employment and how more inclusive approaches can be developed.
Supported by David Curry, DurhamWorks Young People’s Engagement Worker, three youth forum members shared their lived experiences and ideas, including taking part in an on-stage discussion in front of around 100 attendees. They represented DurhamWorks brilliantly, impressing employers and generating interest in future opportunities.
DurhamWorks would like to congratulate and thank the ‘Fab 3’ for their fantastic contribution.
DurhamLearn
Disability Staff Network – Join our growing community
The Disability Staff Network is a friendly and supportive group that brings colleagues together to share experiences, influence change, and improve the working environment for disabled staff across the council. The group meets four times a year and are continuing to grow, welcoming anyone who wants to get involved. The network is chaired by Mark Colman, with support from Paula Foster-Short.
Over the past 12 months, the group has been busy driving positive change, including:
- Contributing to the New Ways of Working initiative and reviewing HR policies
- Developing a Buddy System to support disabled staff, both new starters and existing employees
- Reviewing staff training courses before launch
- Providing input on major council developments such as Rivergreen and The Story
- Taking part in Lumiere preview access to assess facilities and ensure an inclusive experience
- Offering members confidential advice and support via Teams, in person, or by phone
If you’d like to be part of a welcoming network where your voice can make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re interesting in joining, please email equalities@durham.gov.uk
And that’s a wrap for this edition of our Newsletter!
If there are any stories that you would like to be included in the next edition please submit to Declan.Claughan@durham.gov.uk