New Work Solutions boss pledges full support for thousands of unemployed residents

One of the North Wests biggest not-for-profit providers of employment and training services has appointed a Deputy Chief Executive of a leading drug support charity as its new boss.

Jerry Stokes is the Chief Executive at Work Solutions, having joined from his previous role at national drugs charity Lifeline. Work Solutions has helped more than 3,000 Greater Manchester residents into employment every year, and 6,000 into training. He joins the organisation with a pledge to continue helping unemployed residents into work, despite fears of an economic downturn.

Jerry brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having worked for 15 years in the drug treatment and charity sectors.

Key Work Solutions services Mr Stokes will take responsibility for include:
The Department of Work and Pensions Pathways to Work service in Wigan and Stockport, which will help more than 11,000 residents off incapacity benefit and into work over three years.
The Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS), which supports around 7,000 offenders and ex-offenders into training and employment every year.
Wide-ranging support for hundreds of Greater Manchester employers, including Train to Gain and a redundancy rescue service which helps companies support employees into new jobs.

Mr Stokes has experience of employment-related programmes, including Progress to Work, through the delivery of a wide range of services for drug users at Lifeline and Addaction, where he was Director of Operations.

He is confident that Work Solutions 300 staff and network of employment centres will continue to find work for residents, despite talk of an economic downturn and the threat of job losses.

The key to delivering support that works for people is making sure our services meet the needs of the residents and employers, and matching those companies who need staff with those who have the right skills, said Jerry.

Greater Manchesters employment market is still strong, and our partners in local, regional and national Government are working hard to keep it that way.

People are still in work and the hundreds of employers we speak to are still looking employ staff. We are working with employers in the public and private sectors to ensure that, wherever possible, local people can benefit from job opportunities. Those opportunities are certainly still there.

To underline his point, Mr Stokes starts his new role as Work Solutions celebrates helping 130 residents in Gorton, East Manchester, through training and into employment at a new Tesco store, due to open this month. For many residents who benefited from Work Solutions support, it was the first time they had been offered an interview, let alone a job.

In recent weeks, Work Solutions OLASS team has received a special commendation in the Regeneration and Renewal Awards for tackling worklessness and is also through to the regional finals of the National Training Awards, which will be held on October 14.

He added: I am delighted to be joining a company like Work Solutions. We have already helped thousands of people into employment in recent years. I am taking up this position at a hugely important time for Work Solutions, and the Greater Manchester economy.

Working with our partners in the public, private and third sectors, I intend to ensure that this impressive record of achievement continues.

At Lifeline - one of the leading charities in its field - Jerry led the Manchester based organisations successful push to deliver services in London which now operate across three boroughs. At Addaction, he drove a period of unprecedented growth and pioneered the organisations first services in Scotland.

A member of ACEVO and the CIPD, Mr Stokes also has experience of NHS management, teaching and volunteering in his 20 year career.

Mr Stokes, who lives in Staffordshire with his wife and eight year old daughter, was appointed after Drew Thomas became Deputy Chief Executive of Work Solutions parent company, Manchester Solutions, in April.

Mr Thomas said: Jerry brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of developing methods of working between the public and private sectors. His experience of working with client groups who need intensive support will prove especially valuable in the new environment in which we are working.

We are delighted to be working with Jerry and share his commitment to ensuring that Greater Manchester residents continue to find that right support to find work.