An Access to Work Alternative
Access to Work wasn’t designed for today’s demands.
Access to Work can provide valuable support, but long delays often leave employees waiting to start, return to or stay in work. AptoLink’s Accelerated Comprehensive Employment – A.C.E – service offer is our fast workplace assessment and implementation solution for employers who need practical recommendations without waiting months for Access to Work outcomes.
Get practical workplace recommendations in 2 weeks.
The UK absence challenge is already costly
Absence is not just an HR issue. It affects productivity, service delivery, team morale and business costs. Demand for Access to Work support has increased dramatically. More employees are seeking support for neurodiversity, mental health conditions, sensory impairments and long-term health conditions than ever before.
The result is longer waiting times, more complexity and increased pressure on employers to understand their responsibilities
In 2025, the Office for National Statistics reported 148.8 million working days lost in the UK due to sickness or injury, while the CIPD found average absence had risen to 9.4 days per employee each year.
- Average processing times for Access to Work 109 Days
- Access to work backlog 62,000 people
- Appeal wait time 35 weeks
- Payment delays – 31,000 people waiting for claims to be cleared
For employers, the cost of absence can include more than sick pay. It can also mean:
- Temporary, agency or overtime cover costs
- Delayed projects and reduced service delivery
- Increased management and HR time
- Lower productivity without the right adjustments
- Greater risk of long-term absence
- Loss of experienced employees who could have stayed in work
If workplace adjustments are delayed, the cost can build quickly.
A 2-week commercial alternative to Access to Work
AptoLink helps employers support employees who are waiting to start, return to or stay in work. A.C.E provides workplace assessment, clear recommendations and guided implementation, helping reduce delay-related costs and move people forward.
A.C.E. stands for Accelerated Comprehensive Employment.
It is AptoLink’s faster route to practical workplace support when employees are waiting to start, return to, or stay in work.
A — Accelerated Assessment
A focused workplace assessment designed to quickly understand the employee’s role, working environment, barriers and support needs.
C — Comprehensive Report
A clear, practical report setting out proportionate recommendations, priorities and next steps, so employers and employees know what support is needed.
E — Employment Roadmap
A guided implementation plan to help employers put recommendations into practice confidently, reducing uncertainty and helping employees move forward sooner.
What does delayed workplace support really cost?
Access to Work can provide valuable support, but delays often leave employers carrying the cost of absence, reduced productivity, temporary cover and uncertainty around workplace adjustments.
What could waiting for Access to Work cost your organisation?
Access to Work can provide valuable support, but delays often leave employers carrying the cost of absence, reduced productivity, temporary cover and uncertainty around workplace adjustments.
In some cases, especially where needs are complex, securing outcomes can take several months, and in extreme case 6-12 months. During that time, the cost of inaction can quickly escalate.
AptoLink’s A.C.E solution provides a faster route to workplace assessment and practical recommendations, with assessments delivered in as little as 2 weeks from £395 + VAT.
This cost excludes the cost of equipment, software, training and workplace adjustments.
A faster workplace assessment can quickly pay for itself
A faster workplace assessment can quickly deliver value, helping employees stay productive, return to work sooner and perform at their best with the right support in place.
AptoLink’s A.C.E. helps employers move quickly from uncertainty to action with clear assessments, practical recommendations and guided implementation.
How A.C.E works
Act Now Vs Waiting
These examples are not intended to predict the outcome of any individual case. They simply show how quickly delay-related employment costs can overtake the cost of an early workplace assessment.
On mobile? Swipe to view →
| Scenario | Estimated cost over 6 months | Estimated cost over 12 months | A.C.E. comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee absent on full pay | Approx. £23,000 | Approx. £46,000 | Workplace Needs Assessments from £395 + VAT |
| Employee absent with temporary cover required | Approx. £46,000 | Approx. £92,000 | Waiting can mean paying twice: salary plus cover |
| Employee working at 50% productivity | Approx. £11,500 | Approx. £23,000 | Delayed support can reduce output even when someone remains in work |
| HR and management time spent managing delays | 8-10 total hours | 15-18 total hours | A.C.E. provides a clearer process, case management and single point of contact |
| Risk of long-term absence or employee loss | 73% | 50% | Earlier action can help protect skills, experience and continuity |
Access to Work vs A.C.E Process
A.C.E. gives you clear, proportionate recommendations in weeks,
not months, while helping Access to Work stay focused on complex cases.
On mobile? Swipe to view →