Employment service launched by Culture Minister

One of the North Wests biggest employment support services hosted a Government visit when Culture Minister Andy Burnham called at its newest centre to mark its successful start.

Leigh MP Mr Burnham was special guest at the official launch of the not-for-profit organisation Work Solutions new employment and training centre in his constituency, on Friday, October 24.

He met local residents who have recently been helped off benefits and into employment by Work Solutions through the Governments Pathways to Work programme. Since opening earlier this year, the centre has helped more than 100 local residents into employment.

Mr Burnham said: Its a pleasure to visit a service that I know has already made a fantastic impact on the lives of many local people here.

Visiting centres like those run by Work Solutions proves beyond doubt the positive impact that employment can have on peoples lives, not just financially, but in terms of experience, confidence and wellbeing too.

I am sure this centre will play a valuable role in the local area.

Pathways to Work, delivered by Work Solutions and Shaw Trust in Wigan and Leigh, aims to help 10,000 local residents off Incapacity Benefit and into employment over a three year period. The Leigh centres team of six advisors has supported more than 1,000 local residents with advice about training, employment and work experience opportunities.

One such resident is former painter and decorator Jimmy Hampson, who was supported with guidance towards a new career after more than 40 years in the trade. After undergoing surgery on his leg last year, Jimmy found that he could no longer work as a painter, but still badly wanted employment.

Now, he has completed a teaching qualification and is training the next generation of painters and decorators at Wigan and Leigh College. He shared his experiences with Mr Burnham during his visit to the centre.

Said Jimmy: After working for 41 years, it was a big shock to stop. But, with the support from Work Solutions I have been able to put my skills to good use in a new role.

The support has made all the difference and its good to get the opportunity to tell a Government minister that services like this are making a difference to peoples lives.

Jerry Stokes, Chief Executive of Work Solutions, said: We are delighted to be able to show a Government Minister like Mr Burnham the results of our services.

We believe that this small project could provide a key piece in the jigsaw to helping people off benefits and into work.

We are committed to working with partners at all levels to spread the message of the positive effects of our work and ensuring that we continue to deliver results.