Presentations

Supported Employment in the UK was once highly effective but largely invisible locally driven, specialist, and disconnected from national systems. This keynote tells the story of how it moved from the margins to a nationally recognised and funded approach across England and Wales.
Led through the experience of BASE (the British Association for Supported Employment), this session explores how a values driven model was scaled without losing ambition or integrity. It charts the shift from fragmented local provision to a coherent national offer, underpinned by a relentless focus on quality through the Supported Employment Quality Assurance Framework and National Occupational Standards.
The keynote examines how policy intent has been translated into delivery reality across youth services, adult services and employer systems and how employers have been supported to engage meaningfully rather than being left to navigate complexity alone.
This session is honest about what hasn’t worked, what has been learned along the way, and the risks of scaling without fidelity. Above all, it is grounded in a clear belief: everyone who wants to work can work, with the right support.