Wednesday 8th February 2012 10.33am
Post your Events Sunderland Benefits From New Advancement Centre For The Unemployed
Unemployed people in Sunderland and Wearside are being supported back into work thanks to a new advancement centre recently opened in the town.
Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG), which has established offices across Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, is bringing a wealth of experience to deliver new contracts designed to help unemployed people secure jobs.
Working closely with local employers and other agencies, PPDG is delivering jobs success to the region by removing barriers to work and enabling local residents to secure sustainable careers. Figures released this month show the centre is already 111pc ahead of target on engagements with clients and is 80pc ahead of target on getting people into work.
PPDG centre manager, Graham Glasgow, said: “We are delighted with this early success and are confident it will continue. We help our clients with employability skills, including telephone techniques, interview preparation and job search, so they are fully prepared before they attended any opportunities we can present to them,” he said.
“Sustainable employment changes lives and families for the better - this support is specifically designed to build confidence and develop the skills many people either haven’t had the opportunity to develop yet or don’t realise they have after being out of work for some time.
“We work closely with employers across the region to find out what they want and need in their staff – that way we can represent both sides very successfully and bring them together.”
PPDG delivers various contracts to provide specialist services on behalf of organisations including the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Skills Funding Agency, Ministry of Justice (MOJ), National Offender Management Service and Jobcentre Plus.
The organisation – which has helped more than 7500 people formerly-unemployed into work since it was established in Teesside in 2004 - is now rapidly expanding throughout the North.
Colin Hall, a 30-year-old from Ryhope, was unemployed after returning to the North East last year following a successful career in the Navy as a leading logistician. (PICTURE AVAILABLE)
His previous roles have seen him organise Puma helicopter flights for the foreign office in and out of Iraq, but after three months of sustained job searching he was still out of work.
He applied for an employment coach position with PPDG and was successful – no he has the opportunity to help others who are in a similar position.
“It is really hard being out of work,” said Colin. “I was pretty shocked to find I was struggling to get a job and I know how hard it is to find sustainable employment these days.
“I am really enjoying working at PPDG, I’m glad to be able to help others as I have experienced a little of what it’s like to be in their shoes.”
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