The spectrum of employment provision for disabled people can be confusing. Social Firms UK has put together this table to explain the difference between sheltered workshops, supported businesses and open supported employment. (NB. Social Firms are set up to provide employment for people severely disadvantaged in the labour market. This includes for example the homeless and ex-substance mis-users etc, not only disabled people. However, this table only refers to disabled people because there is not spectrum of sheltered workshops/supported businesses for other types of severe disadvantage in the labour market.)
You can also download a guide to the terminology on supported business, Social Firms etc that we have extracted from our guide "How to Convert a Supported business into a Social Firm". Click here for information on how to order a copy.
