Since October 2005, OSW has been a member of the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA). ERSA acts as a trade association, helping independent providers of employment and employment related services, raise the profile of the sector and engage constructively with Government and policy-makers.

Recent Welfare to Work policy has created a market for private and voluntary sector providers of employment services as, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus look for alternative ways to deliver programmes traditionally delivered by public bodies. For example, DWP has indicated that independent providers will be critical to the success of national programmes such as the rollout of Pathways to Work. OSW has recognised the importance of engaging with a body such as ERSA to represent the needs of providers in the homelessness sector.

Further information on the role of ERSA can be found at the ERSA website.