Case Study

Many jobseekers that Ingeus supports struggle with unstable housing situations. Facing or experiencing homelessness significantly impacts people’s mental health and diminishes their ability to access training or work opportunities. Ingeus and Only a Pavement Away – a charity founded by leaders from the hospitality industry – joined forces in late 2023 to tackle this issue head on.  

 

The collaboration is proving hugely successful in both addressing homelessness through employment and bridging labour shortages in the hospitality industry. So much so that the initiative was recognised with an employability industry award nomination in 2025. 

 

Through the partnership, participants benefit from a blend of employability and housing support, specialist hospitality training, and exposure to a wide network of hospitality, pub and restaurant industry employers. To date, more than 250 people from the Restart Scheme and Work and Health Programme in London and Manchester have been jointly supported, resulting in more than half undertaking development activities and 40 people securing permanent employment. 

 

Expanding operations from London to Manchester has made Ingeus one of the charity’s largest community referral partners, as Holly Colman, Head of Charity and Candidate Development at Only a Pavement Away explains: 

“Ingeus has really encouraged awareness of our services with their advisors and the referrals have followed,” she says. “They’ve invited us to use their facilities, attend events, and developed an Introduction to Hospitality participant session which we run to broaden understanding of the industry, its demands, and opportunities. We collaborate closely on the mix of support we jointly offer to make sure people are fully prepared to transition into hospitality roles. 

 

“Only a Pavement Away then arranges onward training, taster sessions, trial shifts and recruitment fairs for candidates to put their skills into action. We provide feedback on each individual’s progress as they either move into work or continue their job search.” 

 

Only a Pavement Away works with people experiencing a wide range of barriers to employment, with homelessness a priority. Since forming in 2018, they have helped more than 800 people into work and delivered tailored learning and development sessions to 4,300 candidates. Appreciating that hospitality is an industry built on people they aim to provide employers with enthusiastic and committed applicants.  

 

Holly continues: “Ingeus has scale, covering large geographic areas with a rich mix of people accessing their programmes. From busy city centres to remote rural locations we can turn to Ingeus with an employer’s requirements.  

 

“As we’ve grown from a small London-based charity to opening two further regional offices, Ingeus has been an incredible support to us – they’ve even sponsored our fundraising efforts and nominated us for an industry award.” 

From bar staff to kitchen porters, hotel receptionists to chefs, it’s a hospitable partnership serving up stability for an industry and the workers that make it.