Restart
Scheme
Understand contracted employability delivery, the participant journey and the prime-provider geography.
Do not confuse referral dates with the end of delivery.
DWP's May 2026 research describes the extension taking referrals to June 2026, with final participants completing in August 2027. Serco subsequently announced a one-year extension from July in its areas. The guide therefore does not claim a uniform current referral closure or reopening across every CPA. Confirm the current local referral instruction and contract; ongoing participant and outcome work are separate.
DWP: Dated programme contextSerco: Provider announcementUnderstand the offer before the job title.
Restart provides tailored employment support through contracted providers in England and Wales. Advisers combine assessment, action planning, employer engagement and practical follow-up. Jobcentre Plus retains its own responsibilities: the provider is not simply a substitute work coach.
DWP: Provider guidanceFor someone working on Restart, the key is understanding both the person and the contract. Attendance, first earnings and a payable job outcome are different events. Service and outcome-related payments have different evidence requirements and timescales.
DWP: Provider guidanceFrom referral to sustained progress
A guide to the operating sequence—not a fixed timetable, caseload formula or estimate of outcomes.
Referral
Confirm the referral, joining arrangements and relevant participant information.
Assessment
Explore strengths, circumstances, aspirations and barriers with the participant.
Action
Agree meaningful actions, deliver support and review whether it helps.
Employment
Match suitable opportunities and support the transition into work.
Follow-through
Maintain the appropriate evidence, support and completion or handover arrangements.
The measures are not interchangeable
Engagement
Joining and attending tell you about access and participation, not necessarily employment progress.
DWP: Provider guidanceFirst earnings
Initial paid work is a milestone. It should not be presented as a sustained or payable outcome without checking the definition.
DWP: Provider guidanceJob outcome
Apply the relevant earnings or self-employment criteria and evidence window. A job start alone does not establish a payable outcome.
DWP: Provider guidanceWho is responsible for delivery?
Commissioner and primes
DWP contracts with primes across the official contract package areas. Prime names and geography are shown below; subcontractor arrangements need separate checking.
DWP: Contract geographyLocal delivery
The employer's job specification determines caseload, travel, supervision and delegated responsibility. A shared contract does not guarantee identical staffing arrangements.
DWP: Provider guidanceWho is the prime provider in each area?
| CPA | Geography | Prime provider |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | West Central | Serco Limited |
| 1b | East Central | AKG UK |
| 2a | North East and Humberside | Reed in Partnership Limited |
| 2b | South and West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | Maximus UK Services Limited |
| 3a | North West | G4S Facilities Management (UK) Limited |
| 3b | Greater Manchester | Ingeus UK Limited |
| 4a | South West | Seetec Pluss Limited |
| 4b | South Central | Fedcap Employment Limited |
| 5a | Central and West London | Ingeus UK Limited |
| 5b | South and East London | Maximus UK Services Limited |
| 5c | Home Counties | Reed in Partnership Limited |
| 6 | Wales | Serco Limited |
12 matching contract areas
DWP: Contract geographyWhat does this mean for the work?
CareerPath's practical interpretation. These prompts are not additional programme rules or promised staffing requirements.
Know what the role actually requires.
Ask how caseloads are allocated and what supervision is available for complex cases. A target alone does not describe the support needed to achieve it.
Prepare an example of changing an intervention after checking its effect. Record your reasoning and follow-through, not just the number of contacts.
Explore the roles behind the delivery.
These are relevant career routes, not confirmation of an open vacancy or a fixed staffing model for this programme.
Employment Adviser
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career Guide Employer engagement & growthEmployer Engagement Consultant
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career Guide Management & leadershipTeam Leader
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career Guide Management & leadershipOperations Manager
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career Guide Quality, compliance & dataPerformance Manager
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career Guide Quality, compliance & dataFunding & Compliance Manager
Responsibilities, entry routes and progression
Read the Career GuideKeep the boundaries clear.
Is Restart the same as Connect to Work?
No. Connect to Work has different eligibility, voluntary supported-employment delivery and local commissioning. Do not describe it as a like-for-like replacement for every Restart participant.
DWP: Programme collectionDWP: Provider guidanceDo the provider names show CareerPath clients?
No. This is DWP's published prime-provider roster, not a client list, vacancy list or endorsement.
DWP: Contract geographyChoose training for the role—not just the programme name.
Start with the employer's essential criteria and the relevant Career Guide. Programme induction, model training, occupational competence and professional qualifications serve different purposes. An optional course does not replace an essential requirement.
The Training & courses action uses CareerPath's existing UKCPD referral. Ad / affiliate: commission may be earned. Course availability, fees and recognition must be checked with the provider; no universal accreditation or mandatory course is implied.
Sources & editorial notes
Reviewed 2026-10-18. Factual programme information is linked to the sources below. Practical workforce and career commentary is CareerPath's interpretation. A future milestone is not a completed award, service launch or hiring commitment.
DWP: Restart provider guidance
Updated 13 July 2026. Use current chapters and the applicable contract; participant support and outcome windows are different.
Open original sourceDWP: Restart contract areas and prime providers
Official 12-CPA prime-provider roster. It does not enumerate every subcontractor or employment vacancy.
Open original sourceDWP: Restart extension research, May 2026
Describes the published referral extension to June 2026 and participant completion through August 2027. Not proof of a uniform current referral closure or reopening.
Open original sourceSerco: June 2026 extension announcement
30 June 2026 announcement of a one-year extension from July in Serco's areas. Do not generalise this into a new referral timetable for all CPAs.
Open original sourceDWP: Connect to Work and local service finder
England and Wales guidance and local service-finder files; Greater Manchester has distinct Prevention Demonstrator arrangements.
Open original source