The UK’s Access to Work scheme is a government-run support system designed to help disabled people get into, stay in, or return to paid employment.
If you’re deaf or hard of hearing (or have other disabilities that affect your work), Access to Work can provide grants to cover additional communication support, assistive technology and adjustments so you’re not unduly disadvantaged in the workplace.
What many people don’t realise is how well a captioning and interpreting provider like 121 Captions can combine with Access to Work to give deaf employees or clients a smooth, inclusive experience.
What kind of support can Access to Work fund?
Access to Work can help with:
- Communication support: BSL interpreters, lip speakers, notetakers, or speech-to-text reporters during meetings, training sessions and company events.
- Assistive technology: Hearing aids, amplified phones, video-relay devices, captioning software or other equipment to support hearing-impaired staff.
- Adjustments at work: Depending on need, this might include software for remote captioning, loop systems, or other tools.
Importantly, this financial support is not a loan; it doesn’t need to be repaid, and usually doesn’t affect other benefits the applicant might receive.
Where 121 Captions fits in
That’s where 121 Captions comes in. We specialise in human-powered captioning, sign-language interpretation and communication support. By using Access to Work funding, employers – or deaf/hard-of-hearing employees – can hire our services without bearing the cost themselves.
Whether you need live captions for meetings, remote captioning for hybrid work, offline captions, or interpreters for BSL, ISL or other sign languages, 121 Captions offers everything Access to Work can fund. We also provide deaf-awareness training, which can help colleagues understand how best to communicate.
Why this matters: inclusion, retention and equality in the workplace
Ensuring fair access and participation
Without support, deaf and hard-of-hearing employees may miss key points in meetings, training or informal discussions. By combining Access to Work and skilled services like ours, organisations can make sure everyone is fully included — boosting fairness, morale and productivity.
Reducing barriers for employers and organisations
For many employers, cost is an obstacle to offering captioning or interpreting. Access to Work removes that financial barrier, allowing you to provide high-quality support without impacting your budget.
Building a culture of inclusivity and professionalism
Using professional captioning and interpreting shows that your organisation takes communication and accessibility seriously. It sends a strong message to employees and clients that everyone’s participation matters.
How to apply for Access to Work, and use captioning/interpreting services
- Check eligibility: you must generally be 16+, living and working in England, Scotland or Wales, and in paid employment (or about to start).
- Apply online or by phone via the official Access to Work application process.
- When prompted for what support you need, specify communication support — e.g. speech-to-text, captioning, sign-language interpreters, etc.
- Once approved, you can engage a professional provider – like 121 Captions – to deliver the services needed.
- Claim costs via the grant: the scheme reimburses approved support, so neither you nor your employer is out-of-pocket.
Don’t let hearing loss hold back talent — 121 Captions can help
Access to Work is an invaluable resource for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees — but only if it’s used properly. 121 Captions can help you turn that funding into practical, high-quality inclusivity.
Whether your team needs real-time captions, sign-language interpreters, remote captioning tools, or deaf-awareness training — we’ve got you covered.
Contact 121 Captions today to find out how we can blend our services with Access to Work funding to make your workplace more accessible, inclusive and effective for everyone.
