People into Work

‘People into Work’ opens doors to employment for those traditionally overlooked. Providing sustainable employment, it changes peoples’ lives and provides social value impact.

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OCS People into Work in numbers

We’re on a mission to make people and places the best they can be and we understand the importance of social value programmes in supporting local communities.
  • Community and Partnerships

    £11.3m+

    Social value delivered in the UK

  • Community and Partnerships

    640

    Candidates supported into work

  • Social Impact

    30

    Strategic partners across the UK

  • 5 years

    Running the People into Work programme

We are proud to work in partnership with some of the leading UK social enterprise organisations.

People and Purpose Delivering on All Fronts

The ‘People into Work’ programme creates pathways to employment for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

By developing skills and capacity, it supports veterans, individuals with disabilities, young people not in employment, education or training, people in the justice system, neurodivergent individuals, and the long-term unemployed in finding work.

Since starting the programme, we have delivered close to £6 million in social value, advancing our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact.

Developing Partnerships to Support Communities

We partner with 30 social enterprises to deliver a UK-wide employment programme.

The programme significantly transforms people’s lives by offering pathways to independence, dignity, and community integration. It is built on a partnership approach and person-centred principles within a real business environment, leading to improved health and wellbeing and economic benefits for individuals.

The success of the ‘People into Work’ programme is driven by its tripartite approach, ensuring:

The right ‘job-ready’ candidates are matched with the right operational team.
Support from the right partner organisations.
A shared vision and commitment to adding social value in our communities.

  • Ever since David joined us, he has been very positive, willing to learn and has literally grasped the job with both hands. He has gone from strength to strength, despite the past challenges he has faced and he is one of my best officers.

    Paul Gosnell, Security Manager, Old Admiralty Building, London

  • I often use OCS as the exemplar in terms of the type of support that’s needed to help people succeed, as there’s a lot of support needed from both the employer and partner sides, and OCS has an exceptional structure, framework and approach.

    Dave Bussey, National Employer & Partnerships Manager, Clarion Housing Group

  • I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to find me a job as a cleaner with OCS. I feel really settled in my new job, thank you again for taking the time to help me.

    Amma Hippolyte, Cleaner, Bupa

Accreditations & Certifications

Strategic partnerships and alliances that help enable the best outcomes for colleagues, customers and communities.

Disability Confident logo IWFM Logo

OCS News & Updates

Stay connected with our social value progress and outcomes.

Two women sitting indoors by a large window. One woman faces the camera, smiling brightly, while the other has her back to the camera, wearing a polka-dot shirt. The woman facing the camera has her hand on the others shoulder, suggesting a supportive moment.

If you’re an organisation supporting those furthest away from employment into work, we’d love to hear from you.

Inclusive Recruitment Enquiries

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like further information on People into Work or are interested in implementing the programme, please contact our team.

  • The People into Work programme was launched in 2019 by The OCS Foundation, in partnership with OCS Group UK. Through a range of partnerships with charities, voluntary sector organisations and social enterprises, we help disadvantaged members of the community into employment with OCS.

  • We work with our partners to identify people who would benefit from the programme, identify potential roles and locations, and help prepare them for work in a range of ways. This can include interview coaching, CV guidance and mentoring.

  • It can be anything within the services OCS offers its customers. From cleaning to security, catering to pest control, we match opportunities with people to help ensure they’re in a career that they find rewarding. We are committed to developing our OCS colleagues, and employees who’ve come through the People into Work programme are no different – there is always an opportunity for learning and development, new qualifications, and taking that next career step.

  • The challenges vary depending on the individual. For some, this may be the first time they have been employed, and the prospect can be daunting. For others, they may have had scarring experiences that affect how they view the world. It’s essential that, as an organisation in collaboration with our strategic partners, we provide wrap-around care, understanding the individual and working with them to help them break whatever cycle they’ve become stuck in so they can achieve long-term success.

  • Helping vulnerable people into work is hugely important. From a business perspective, it helps OCS fill roles that may otherwise be unfilled. From a societal perspective, we help vulnerable people into employment, which has a significant impact on their self-worth and their contribution to society and their communities. At the same time, it’s clear to our communities and our clients that we are an organisation committed to bringing about positive social value impact.