UK Enterprise Awards 2026 / 144 Best UK NMH Provider 2026 First Class Support Ltd is a Plymouth-based, UK-wide support provider specialising in academic, employment and wellbeing support for people who face additional barriers to education, work and independent living. Matthew Mitchell tells us more. Founded in 2015, First Class Support Ltd (First Class) was created after disabled students were left without support when a previous provider ceased trading. What started as a small business in Plymouth has grown into a national organisation supporting thousands of individuals across education, employment and wellbeing services throughout the UK. Despite that growth, the company has worked hard to maintain the same values and personal approach the company was founded on. “First Class Support was built from a genuine desire to make sure people did not fall through the cracks,” explains Managing Director Matthew Mitchell. “As a founder, one of the things I am most proud of is not just the growth of the business itself, but the impact it has had on people’s lives.” The organisation’s clients include students, universities, employers, local organisations, charities and individuals who need practical, structured and person-centred support. We work with people with disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health difficulties, sensory impairments and other barriers that may affect learning, confidence, employment or daily life. With services including academic mentoring, study skills support, employment support, wellbeing support, community access support, training, disability awareness, practical support and specialist support roles, the firm also supports organisations to become more inclusive through training, consultancy and tailored support packages. “At the heart of First Class is a simple purpose: to help people move forward,” Matthew elaborates. “Whether that means staying in education, gaining confidence, accessing work, improving wellbeing or becoming more independent, our focus is always on meaningful, sustainable outcomes.” Matthew continues to tell us that every day, First Class Support strives to make a genuine difference to people’s lives through meaningful, practical and outcome-focused support. The goal is not simply to “provide a service”, but to help people progress in education, employment and everyday life with greater confidence, independence and wellbeing. “We work with many individuals who have previously felt overlooked, unsupported or underestimated, and we take pride in creating support that is human, flexible, and genuinely impactful,” he adds. With core values of inclusivity, compassion, accountability, innovation and integrity, every decision is influenced with these in mind, from how First Class recruits and trains staff, to how it communicates with clients and develops new services. The organisation also strongly believes in creating sustainable outcomes. Success for Matthew and the team is not just measured by hours delivered, but by real world impact such as a student completing their course, an individual gaining employment, a person rebuilding confidence, or somebody accessing support before reaching crisis point. The support sector evolves rapidly, particularly around accessibility, neurodiversity, mental health and employment support. Rather than waiting for change to happen, First Class actively look ahead and develops new ideas, services and technologies that improve accessibility and engagement. Challenges within the sector, such as increasing demand, funding pressures and growing complexity of needs, are approached proactively rather than reactively. To this end, First Class focuses heavily on problem solving, flexibility and partnership working. During periods where others may reduce services or become rigid in delivery, the company looks for ways to adapt and continue supporting people effectively. “Our unique selling point is that we combine the professionalism and infrastructure of a national provider with the agility, passion and personal approach of an independent organisation,” enthuses Matthew. “We are able to innovate quickly, tailor support to individuals and organisations, and develop services that are genuinely centred around outcomes rather than processes alone.” Across the UK, there has been a significant increase in demand for accessible support services, particularly in relation to neurodiversity, mental health, wellbeing and employment support. Within education and workplaces, there is now far greater awareness of conditions such as ADHD, autism, anxiety and burnout. However, awareness does not always translate into practical support. One of the biggest trends Matthew is seeing is organisations actively looking for realistic, outcome-focused solutions rather than simply policy-level commitments. He is also seeing growing demand for earlier intervention and preventative support as well as an increasing focus on inclusion, accessibility, and social mobility. “Since inception, we have focused on removing barriers, improving accessibility and creating sustainable outcomes for individuals who may otherwise struggle to engage with traditional systems,” Matthew continues. “The increasing national focus on wellbeing, accessibility and inclusion has reinforced the importance of the services we provide and accelerated demand for innovative approaches to support delivery.” Looking ahead, the next 12-24 months will be an exciting period for First Class. Matthew believes the UK is an excellent foundation for continued growth and innovation, with the organisation’s long-term ambition being not only to expand nationally, but also to use the experience and models developed in the UK to influence accessible support services more broadly in the future. Contact: Matthew Mitchell Company: First Class Support Web Address: www.firstclass-support.co.uk
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