This report and research summary 'Readiness to work as prevention of re-trafficking: an evaluation of the Sophie Hayes Foundation Employability Programme' is based on a research project conducted by the University of Nottingham in partnership with the Sophie Hayes Foundation and King’s College London. The Authors are Nicola Wright, Tessa Langley, Zachary Singlehurst (University of Nottingham), Emily Death, Cilla McPaintsil, Joanne Wells, Victoria Abbott, Carly Webster, Caitlin Battersby (Sophie Hayes Foundation), and Elizabeth Such (King’s College London).
This project was funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC), at the University of Oxford, which in turn is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
The Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC have actively supported the production of the research summary and the full report. However, the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of the funders.
Background
Modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour, and debt bondage, remains a significant global and national challenge. Survivors often face ongoing social, economic, and structural barriers that can increase their vulnerability to further exploitation and re-trafficking. Preventing exploitation therefore requires more than addressing immediate harms, it also involves supporting long-term recovery, resilience, and economic security.
Employment can play an important role in this process. When safe, meaningful, and appropriately supported, it can provide stability, autonomy, and opportunities for survivors to rebuild their lives. Through its Employability Programme, the Sophie Hayes Foundation (SHF) supports adult women survivors in England to develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to progress towards employment and financial independence.
This research examined the extent to which the Employability Programme contributes to reducing vulnerability to re-trafficking and supporting longer-term recovery. It also explored the immediate-, short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes associated with participation in the programme, alongside the costs and consequences of delivering this model of support.
Key Findings
- Employability is about more than getting a job
The research found that employability is best understood as a capability rather than simply an employment outcome. Progress towards employment was often gradual and non-linear, with survivors building skills, confidence, and stability over time. - The Sophie Hayes Foundation Employability Programme strengthens key protective factors
The programme supported the development of psychological stability, confidence, agency, social connectedness, and knowledge. These capabilities are associated with reduced vulnerability and align with wider evidence on the importance of survivor-centred, de-stigmatising support. - Survivors experienced meaningful personal and professional progress Participants reported improvements in mental wellbeing, daily functioning, stability, routine, social connection, and future planning. Many also felt better equipped to navigate systems and avoid unsafe or exploitative work.
- Wider structural barriers continue to shape outcomes
The impact of the programme was influenced by factors beyond its control, including immigration status, restrictions on the Right to Work, insecure housing, labour market discrimination, welfare conditionality, and access to childcare. - Holistic, trauma-informed support requires sustained investment
The cost–consequence analysis showed that delivering a holistic, trauma-informed Employability Programme with wraparound support requires significant organisational investment. However, this investment was associated with positive outcomes across multiple domains, including increased confidence, skills, stability, agency, and social connectedness.
Key Recommendations
For Policymakers
- Embed employability support within modern slavery service provision, including future commissioning arrangements, to support progression from recovery to sustainable employment.
- Explore ways to improve access to employment for survivors in the asylum system, alongside appropriate safeguards and trauma-informed support.
- Strengthen collaboration between the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions to develop effective pathways from welfare to work.
- Improve national data collection on re-trafficking and repeat vulnerability, including mechanisms to identify repeat entry into the National Referral Mechanism.
For Businesses
- Promote inclusive and trauma-informed employment practices, informed by survivor experience.
- Work with frontline organisations to create supported routes into employment and improve long-term job retention.
For Organisations Supporting Survivors
- Improve coordination across the sector by mapping employability provision, identifying gaps, and creating clearer referral pathways between services.
For Funders
- Provide long-term, flexible funding that reflects the non-linear nature of recovery and progression towards employment.
- Ensure funding approaches respond to the diverse needs and experiences of different survivor groups.
- Invest in research on re-trafficking, repeat vulnerability, and long-term outcomes, including employment, wellbeing, and safety.
- Support survivor-centred research to better understand how interventions contribute to reduced vulnerability and sustainable recovery.
