Almost 2,000 people in Coventry, Warwickshire and across the Midlands have celebrated ending their unemployment ordeals by clinching new jobs with local companies thanks to vital support from an important new initiative.

The Flexible New Deal (FND), delivered by Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG), was this week expected to smash through the regional milestone of 2,000 jobs inside eight months despite the tough economic climate causing redundancies across the UK.

In Warwickshire 470 people have had their lives transformed after getting back into work with support from PPDG's team of employment experts based at offices in Coventry, Nuneaton and Leamington Spa. In Staffordshire 688 clients have been helped out of unemployment, while in Hereford/Worcestershire the figure is 384, in Shropshire it is 225 and 182 in the Black Country.

Among the many success stories is Alexandra Vryenhoef who had been unemployed for two years when she first walked into the PPDG offices in Coventry. Following an intensive programme of tailored support she decided to set up her own business. 

Alexandra, aged 25, from Canley, compiled a business plan with support from self employment adviser John Kilcoyne and launched a company selling outdoor clothing. Within three months she was planning to expand into larger premises and internet shopping. 

PPDG delivers Flexible New Deal in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. The Government-funded initiative was launched in October last year and aims to provide long-term unemployed people with tailored support and access to local job opportunities.

PPDG's team of experienced employment experts works alongside jobseekers and local employers to match the most suitable applicants to the jobs that are available. Support for customers includes advice on CVs, improving interview techniques, increasing confidence, providing access to training and much more.

PPDG regional operations director Linda Vickers said: "Alexandra is a fantastic example of how Flexible New Deal is having a major positive impact on the people of Coventry and Warwickshire and across the Midlands who find themselves out of work largely due to the tough economic conditions. She had been unemployed for a substantial period of time when we first met her and yet, within just a couple of weeks, she begun planning her new business and can now look to the future with confidence."

She added: "Working alongside employers, agencies and other support organisations, we are determined to have a major impact across Coventry and Warwickshire by providing a first class job matching service to get people working again. Finding employment can be a daunting challenge, and sadly it is one that many people find too difficult to overcome. That is why it is more important than ever that people take advantage of the invaluable support that is available to jobseekers through Flexible New Deal."

Of the 470 Warwickshire people accessing employment, 249 live in Coventry, 104 in Nuneaton, 65 in Leamington, 24 in Stratford and 28 in Rugby.

PPDG works in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and other organisations, to deliver employment and training initiatives including Flexible New Deal, Employment Zone, Lone Parent mentoring, and Learndirect training programmes. More than 100,000 job seekers have been helped into sustained employment by the company since the projects began. It has trained 130,000 people in vocational skills, and over 175,000 people have benefitted from professional information, advice and guidance services.