Pictured above: Geoff Henning (right) and Andres Downes (second left), of SitexOrbis, welcome Pertemps People Development Group clients Reiss Ford (left) and Luke Reece on work placement at the company

Unemployed young people in Birmingham and Walsall are being given a chance to secure jobs at an ambitious and expanding company by a manager who knows how tough it is to be out of work.

Thirteen jobseekers have each started a 13-week placement at people and property protection specialists SitexOrbis which may lead to the possibility of securing permanent employment in the new year.

Branch manager Geoff Henning, from Worcester, was unemployed for four months earlier this year before securing a job at SitexOrbis following support from employment experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG).

Now the two companies are working together to provide opportunities for young people who are desperate to end their unemployment ordeals. PPDG employment coaches in Worcester, Birmingham and Walsall are also combining to provide SitexOrbis with the most suitable applicants.

SitexOrbis is an ambitious company which is winning new contracts with local authorities and housing associations throughout the UK. In the Midlands there are offices in Garretts Green (Birmingham), Walsall and Nottingham. It provides services such as fitting steel shutters and doors to vacant properties, monitored alarm systems, property clearance and also specialist cleaning services.

The placements were arranged by employment experts PPDG through the Government-funded Work Focused Training initiative which provides vocational training opportunities and employability skills to 18 to 24-year-olds.

The initiative is part of the Government's Backing Young Britain campaign, in partnership with the Future Jobs Fund and the Community Taskforce, which encourages organisations to provide young people with the opportunities they need to get into work. PPDG is providing vocational training linked to the needs of the local labour market that progresses young people towards the achievement of full Level 2 or 3 vocational qualifications that can be continued in or around work if required.

Geoff said: "We want to grow our business and we have developed a good partnership with PPDG which is mutually beneficial. Six months ago I left my previous employment and was supported by the team at PPDG in Worcester.

"My experience has helped me relate to the candidates and it makes me feel good to be able to give people an opportunity. If they have got the right attitude and are prepared to invest in themselves they will get the greatest benefit from the placement. SitexOrbis stands for quality, service and investing in its staff. It's all about having the right individuals who have a positive approach to working.

"I have nothing but praise for the work being done by the team at PPDG. We are all working together to try to get people into employment. I can't think of any reason why this relationship won't continue and prosper. I am happy to give the right people placements and an opportunity to prove themselves. "

He added: "We have previously offered employed positions to candidates from placement schemes - nothing is guaranteed and the people on work placement have to prove themselves but if they do well and our sales team continue to deliver the increased work they will be at the front of the queue for future opportunities. We now have 13 PPDG clients on work placement and we hope that some get permanent jobs as mobile or warehouse operatives or possibly in administration if they prove themselves. At the very least they are getting valuable work experience."

SitexOrbis director Mark Cosh confirmed the business has a policy of recruiting unemployed candidates for work in branches throughout Britain.

PPDG regional operations director Jolie Williams said: "Working with SitexOrbis is a relationship that is blossoming as SitexOrbis's values are in line with those of PPDG. Geoff and his team are providing excellent opportunities and valuable, realistic experience for our clients that will prepare them for a job at SitexOrbis or another employer."

PPDG's team of employment experts provide advice on benefits, confidence building, one-to-one support, CV and interview preparation as well as finding the right job or training course. In partnership with DWP, the Ministry of Justice and Jobcentre Plus, PPDG delivers a diverse range of employment and training initiatives including Flexible New Deal, Working Neighbourhoods Fund, Learndirect and many ESF funded 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.