An award-winning training provider that operates as a social enterprise has doubled the amount of support it can offer elderly and vulnerable residents in North Staffordshire.

PM Training, recently crowned 'social enterprise of the year' in a national awards ceremony, is providing even more home, garden and estate-based services through Homeworks, its direct works arm.

Homeworks has mushroomed in the past two years. It now boasts 37 teams, compared with 16 last year.

In addition to this, the scheme has provided 24 new jobs and provided over 100 young, local people with training places.

The local community also benefits as the Homeworks teams provide assistance to over 1500 people and properties in the Staffordshire area.

The work the team do ranges from painting and decorating, soft furnishings, estate caretaking, garden maintenance and environmental improvement services.

Such rapid growth will allow PM Training, part of the Aspire Group, to create even more opportunities and change even more lives.

Tracy Holdway a Homeworks customer from Longton, Stoke-on-Trent said: "The team helped me re-fit my three storey home, which I had taken on for myself and my two children.

"The standard of work the Homeworks team produced was of such a high standard and very professional, I can't thank them enough.

"The team were very polite, trustworthy and worked extremely hard - by the end of the seven days I was sad to see them go."

Will Nixon, Chief Executive of PM Training, said: "Homeworks was initially launched to improve local neighbourhoods, while giving local young people the experience they needed to secure full time employment.

"It has proved extremely popular with customers who remain keen to benefit from our home improvement and environmental services.

"Our teams are in great demand and this rapid expansion is partly due to our successful partnership with Renew North Staffordshire."

PM Training joined forces with Renew, one of the Government's nine housing market renewal pathfinders, last year in a pioneering initiative to create housing and communities that suit local needs and attract more people to live in the area.

For nearly fifteen years Homeworks has also partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to provide a range of gardening, furnishing and painting and decorating services to more than 1000 elderly and disabled residents.

"By partnering with Renew, we have gained a select and valuable list of contractors, developers and housing associations that we can work with," added Will Nixon.

"Businesses have been extremely keen to maximise use of Homeworks which is good news for everyone.

"In return we are able to offer a proven track record of success that combines thousands of happy customers, more attractive living, working and public spaces, and life-changing opportunities for young trainees."  

Partners include Aspire Housing, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Kier Stoke, Moorlands Housing and Staffordshire Housing Association.     

The quality of service is reflected in high levels of repeat business and referrals to third party organisations.