Pictured above: Pertemps People Development Group regional operations director Linda Vickers celebrates the company's achievements in the Coventry area with Glenys Crombie

Employment experts are celebrating helping almost 3,000 long-term unemployed people in Coventry and Warwickshire into new jobs or training.

Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG), which has offices in Coventry, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Rugby, smashed through the 2,500 milestone before the end of 2010 despite the tough economic climate causing redundancies across the UK.

Since opening its first office at Bell Green in 2007 the company, which delivers Government-funded Welfare to Work initiatives, has helped 1,858 clients end their unemployment ordeal. More than 1,000 of those found sustainable employment, which means they have been in work for three months or longer.

A further 1,000 local people have been supported through integrated training and employability skills training, said regional operations director Linda Vickers. 

PPDG delivers the Flexible New Deal initiative across Coventry & Warwickshire and The Workshop (Coventry New Deal for Communities) in the Bell Green regeneration area. 

FND was launched in October 2009, providing 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, access to training and much more.

Linda said: "We are proud that we have been able to help so many people throughout Coventry & Warwickshire transform their lives through gaining employment or entering into training.

"Working alongside employers, agencies and other support organisations, we are having a major impact across the region by providing a first class job matching service to get people working again. For many people finding employment can be a daunting challenge, and one that some sadly 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 the initiatives that we deliver."

PPDG works in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and other organisations, to deliver employment and training initiatives including Flexible New Deal, Work Focused Training, Employability Skills Programme, Foundation Learning, Young Parents to Be 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.