Key Facts
Working Links was founded in 2000 and operates
in 144 locations across England, Scotland and
Wales. It is a unique organisation that delivers services
to tackle social exclusion and poverty by helping disadvantaged
individuals and communities.
The organisation’s belief that employment is
the best route out of poverty has helped over 130,000
people back into work which is one person every
seven minutes of the working day.
It is a public-private-voluntary
company. Its shareholders are the government’s Shareholder
Executive, Manpower,
Capgemini and
Mission
Australia. It delivers effective solutions by working
in partnership with organisations including the Learning and Skills
Council, Jobcentre Plus, and the Probation Service.
Profit is not Working Links’ only driving
force. Its shareholders endorse its social purpose
and are interested in how Working Links can create long
term value, investing in the quality of services and the
communities where it operates.
Working Links helps and supports people who
face significant challenges and barriers such as those who have
been unemployed for a long time to former offenders, lone parents
and older workers. It also works with employers and the prison and
probation services to help prisoners in over 20
institutions.
By helping the most vulnerable in society to
improve their skills and help them move into jobs
with a future, Working Links can create a greater sense of
social inclusion. This leads to better health,
education, reduced crime and brighter futures.
When Working Links was founded in April 2000
their shareholders decided a proportion of profits should be
reinvested to support the communities where works. The Links
Foundation was subsequently launched in 2004 as a
charitable trust to distribute this Community Reinvestment
Fund. Since then, more than £1.7million has been invested.
And more than 137 projects across Britain have benefited.