Pictured above: Gavin Pollock, of Worldwide Magazine Distribution, is joined by Martin Burton as he celebrates more than 10 years of employment at the company following support from  Pertemps People Development Group

A Birmingham man who endured the nightmare of being without a job is celebrating over a decade of employment thanks to a leading welfare to work and training provider and support from one of the UK's top magazine distribution companies.

Gavin Pollock was among Pertemps People Development Group's (PPDG) first ever clients after they opened their Smith's Wood offices more than 10 years ago. As one of the first job seekers they helped into employment with Worldwide Magazine Distribution (WWMD) Gavin is a prime example of those being helped into sustained employment by the company.

WWMD operations manager Martin Burton said: "Worldwide Magazine Distribution has always enjoyed an excellent relationship with PPDG to help local people find employment opportunities. Gavin is a shining example of how people who have been unemployed for a while can go on to enjoy sustained and successful employment with a company for a number of years. He's a well liked and a highly valued member of staff."

Gavin, aged 38, from Kingshurst, had been unemployed for around a year when he was put in touch with employment coaches at PPDG. Within just three weeks PPDG had worked in partnership with Worldwide Magazine Distribution to secure him a job as goods-in supervisor at its base at Griffin Business Park, Chelmsley Wood, near Solihull.

Ten years on and popular Gavin has enjoyed a number of different roles within the company. "I had numerous labouring jobs previously but had been out of work for around a year when Jobcentre Plus put me in touch with the centre at Smith's Wood. It was the best thing that could have happened because in just three weeks I was back in work.

"With a wife and three daughters to support it's important to have regular employment and I'm really settled here at WWMD. I'm so grateful for the support both companies have provided and look forward to another 10 years and beyond ensuring everyone gets their magazines on time," he said.

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.