What Works Centre (WWC) for Local Employment Support
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) · United Kingdom
Grant funding to establish an independent, co-created What Works Centre (WWC) for Local Employment Support to identify, develop, test and evaluate evidence-based locally delivered employment support that helps people access, remain in and thrive in good quality work. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
19 May 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding to establish an independent, co-created What Works Centre (WWC) for Local Employment Support to identify, develop, test and evaluate evidence-based locally delivered employment support that helps people access, remain in and thrive in good quality work. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Employment policy; labour market participation; public health and employment; active labour market policies (ALMPs); local and regional government employment support; work and health. (UK Research and Innovation)
Match funding
No additional matched funding required beyond the standard 20% institutional FEC contribution.
Eligible applicants
Project Lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. Applications may include UK businesses, third sector organisations and government bodies as project partners, but these organisations cannot lead the application. Non-UK organisations cannot lead. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£15,000,000 (Full Economic Cost)
Total fund available
£15,000,000
Funding intensity
80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC).
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Establish and operate a national What Works Centre focusing on locally delivered employment support, evidence generation, evidence synthesis, trials, implementation research, knowledge mobilisation and engagement with local and regional government. The Centre must apply for official What Works Network status within 12 months of the award. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Full Economic Cost (FEC) model including directly incurred and directly allocated costs in accordance with UKRI rules.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S).
Competitiveness
Not specified.
Decision timeline
Shortlisting: end of July 2026. Interviews: week commencing 14 September 2026. Final decisions: October 2026. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Eligibility check followed by expert peer review, shortlisting and interview. Final funding decision made by ESRC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary; Vision; Approach; Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver (R4RI); Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation; Research involving Human Participation; Resources and Cost Justification; Working Collaboratively with Partners and Stakeholders; Delivering Outcomes and Impact; Governance and Management; Organisation Support; Project Partners. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Statement of Support from the research organisation.
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications that fail eligibility requirements or do not follow UKRI guidance may be rejected.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
27 Jan 2026
Project duration
60 months
Project start
22 Jan 2027
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Collaboration rules
- Applications must include team members and project partners from outside academia. Collaborative applications are encouraged across research organisations, businesses, government and third-sector partners. (UK Research and Innovation)
Consortium requirements
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-07-31.
Next Expected Opening
Not announced. UKRI/ESRC has not published another round or reopening date as of the latest official update. (UK Research and Innovation)
Minimum Award
£14,000,000
Application Limit
Funding is for one single award. Only the lead research organisation may submit an application. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
Applied social science research; policy research; evidence synthesis; evaluation; knowledge mobilisation.
Subcontractors
Not specified.
Subsidy Scheme
Not specified.
Sanctions Rule
Not specified.
Animal Research Rule
Not applicable.
Interview Stage
Yes. Shortlisted applicants invited to interview.
Key Requirements
Centre must be independent and co-created. Must include partners from outside academia. Must apply for What Works Network membership within 12 months. Must focus on locally delivered employment support and labour market participation. Project must start by 22 January 2027. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
Funding supports one national What Works Centre only. Submitted applications cannot be amended after submission. No future funding round has been announced by UKRI/ESRC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
19 May 2026, 4:00 PM UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 19 May 2026
- Funding amount
- £15,000,000 (Full Economic Cost)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Employment policy; labour market participation; public health and employment; active labour market policies (ALMPs); local and regional government employment support; work and health. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 27 Jan 2026