16th January 2012: BEST and Partners Celebrate our 1000th Work Programme Job

Providing a fantastic start to the New Year, we are delighted to be able to announce that in December we moved our 1000th customer into work! Only six months into the Governments flagship new Work Programme this is a significant achievement for BEST and our partners!

Our 1000th job start sparks inspiration for unemployed local young people, who we know have been particularly negatively affected by the economic downturn. Jamie Longley, 19 years of age and from Leeds, couldn’t have started his New Year any better. He overcame his lack of work experience and skills needs to sustain his first job just in time for Christmas.

Simon Dainty, Jamie’s Work Coach explains:
It was important that Jamie understood that the support structure of the Work Programme was able to provide Jamie with dedicated coaching and targeted interventions. The one to one tailored support Jamie received helped him to overcome his barriers to work and secure a job that he really enjoys!

After only four weeks Jamie has been promoted and fully enjoying his new found role as a Warehouse Operative.

Recognising the drive to share success and build on this strong start, we hope to support even more Young People into sustained employment through a range of initiatives including the Government’s new Youth Contract. We look forward to sharing details of this work, and more good news stories with you as we move into 2012.