What Works Centre (WWC) for local employment support
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) · United Kingdom
Funding to establish an independent, co-created What Works Centre (WWC) to identify, develop, test and evaluate evidence-based locally delivered employment support to help people access, remain in and thrive in good quality work.
Summary
Deadline
19 May 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding to establish an independent, co-created What Works Centre (WWC) to identify, develop, test and evaluate evidence-based locally delivered employment support to help people access, remain in and thrive in good quality work.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Business, Research, Charity Community
Business size
SME, Large
Industries
Employment policy, labour market participation, public health and employment, active labour market policies, local and regional government employment support.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
Project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. UK businesses, third sector or government bodies cannot lead. Non-UK organisations cannot lead. UK research organisation or consortium eligible for ESRC/UKRI funding to establish What Works Centre for local employment support. Must focus on locally delivered employment and labour market support. Must include emp...
Eligible applicants
Project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. UK businesses, third sector or government bodies cannot lead. Non-UK organisations cannot lead.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£15,000,000 (Full Economic Cost)
Total fund available
£15,000,000
Funding intensity
ESRC and DWP will fund 80% of the Full Economic Cost (FEC).
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Must focus on locally delivered employment and labour market support. Must include employment as an intended outcome. Must align with role and effectiveness of local and regional government levers. Must apply for What Works Network status within 12 months of award.
Eligible expenses
- Full Economic Cost (FEC) model. Staff costs, including eligible project co-leads from government (with backfill). Advisory board costs. Centre management costs.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under Innovate UK IFS competition guidance.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S).
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Not specified in provided content.
Assessment process
Assessed through UKRI Funding Service process.
Application sections
- Summary. Vision. Approach. Applicant and team capability to deliver (R4RI format). Ethics and RRI. 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.
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Statement of Support from research organisation.
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Automatic exclusion if requirements not met (start date, duration, scope, co-lead requirement).
Timeline and partners
Opening date
27 Jan 2026
Project duration
60 months
Project start
21 Jan 2027
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Collaboration rules
- Must include at least one project co-lead from UK business, third sector or government organisation. Proposals must include team members and project partners from outside academia.
Consortium requirements
- Multi-partner consortium typically required for WWC establishment award.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Application Limit","value":"Single award only."},{"label":"Research Category","value":"Centre establishment; evidence synthesis; evaluation; primary research; knowledge mobilisation."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specifically detailed in provided content."},{"label":"Subsidy Scheme","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Sanctions Rule","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Animal Research Rule","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Must include at least one project co-lead from UK business, third sector or government organisation. Must include non-academic partners. Must start by 22 January 2027. Must run 60 months. Must align with scope."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Funding is for a single award. Must apply to What Works Network within 12 months of award start."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 19 May 2026
- Funding amount
- £15,000,000 (Full Economic Cost)
- Funding band
- Large (£5M+)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Business, Research Innovation, Charity Community, Mixed
- Industry
- Employment policy, labour market participation, public health and employment, active labour market policies, local and regional government employment support.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 26 Jan 2026