19/05/2025
By AKG
As professionals working to support people into work, we know that no two journeys are the same. That’s why effective employability support must be flexible, person-centred, and increasingly integrated.
From 30 June 2025, three organisations, Jobs 22, Healthfind and Learn Plus Us, will officially come together under one brand: AKG. Our purpose remains the same: to empower people through employment, health and education, enabling them to thrive in their communities.
Intuitive Thinking Skills (ITS) will continue to operate under its own brand identity. ITS remains a valued part of AKG, bringing peer-led behavioural change expertise to support individuals navigating complex challenges. While its brand remains distinct, ITS teams will continue working closely with other AKG services to deliver truly joined-up support.
Why the Change?
This isn’t a merger or a restructure. The shift to AKG reflects how we increasingly operate: blending employability, health and learning support to address the interconnected barriers people face.
Ayd Sims, AKG Country Manager and CEO, explains: “Our delivery teams have been working more closely than ever. Whether it’s a health coach supporting a Restart Scheme participant or a tutor helping an employer upskill their workforce, the service needs are rarely in isolation. Unifying under AKG gives us a clearer identity for stakeholders, a stronger platform for growth, and ultimately helps us better serve the people in the communities we support.”
This brand evolution comes as the sector responds to rising complexity in participant needs and increasing demand for integrated delivery. Whether it’s IPS, Connect to Work, the Restart Scheme, or other services, AKG’s multi-disciplinary, locally tailored provision can scale.
A Case in Point: Nick’s Story
Nick, a Restart Scheme participant in Wellingborough, shows what’s possible when AKG services work together. After redundancy in 2022, he faced significant mental and physical health challenges, low confidence, and long-term substance misuse.
Initially sceptical, Nick was supported by Employment Coach Stephanie from Jobs 22 (becoming AKG Employment). Over time, he engaged with:
- Intuitive Thinking Skills – attending courses that built resilience and belief
- Learn Plus Us (becoming AKG Learning) – joining confidence workshops that reshaped his mindset
- Healthfind (becoming AKG Health) – where Health Coach Daniella provided life-changing mental health support
Nick reduced his drug use, came off medication, rebuilt confidence and secured a job as an industrial cleaner. He now looks to the future with optimism.
Stephanie said: “Once Nick accepted mental health support, the difference was incredible. Daniella’s work was a turning point, and it unlocked everything else.”
While this level of collaboration already existed within the AKG family, the move to a single brand takes it further.
Ayd Sims explains: “Nick’s story is powerful, but under our previous structure, wraparound support relied on informal collaboration. The rebrand simplifies and formalises those connections. It helps us integrate more seamlessly, reach more people, and present a cohesive offer to commissioners.
“For individuals, it’s clearer and easier to access. For partners and funders, it shows we’re one organisation delivering holistic, place-based services, and that’s where we believe the future lies.”
What This Means for You
As fellow employability professionals, you’ll continue working with the same AKG teams you know. Programmes, partnerships and contracts remain unchanged.
What’s new is a shared brand identity that reflects the integrated way we work. The AKG name will become more visible in the coming months, with a formal launch on 30 June 2025.
Ayd Sims adds: “We’re proud of our roots as Jobs 22, Healthfind and Learn Plus Us, but even more excited about what we can achieve together as AKG. We’ll keep building partnerships, sharing what works, and creating opportunities that empower people to lead healthier, more secure lives through employment.” To learn more, visit: https://jobs-22.co.uk/introducing-akg-employment.
