Organisations unite to provide jobs boost (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Organisations unite to provide jobs boost
7:30am Saturday 16th June 2012 in News
David Akinrinmade, Daniel Hardy, Ingeus’ Michelle Burningham, and Andrew Olusen at the Range, Lakeside
A WEST Thurrock retailer has given eight long-term unemployed people a job.
The Range, in Lakeside Retail Park, West Thurrock, recruited a team for a variety vacancies through Ingeus, which delivers the Government’s work programme in the East of England.
Daniel Hardy and David Akinrinmade, both from Chadwell St Mary, and Andrew Olusen, from South Ockendon, are just three of the successful Ingeus clients who are relishing being back in work.
The job couldn’t have come at a better time for Daniel, 35, whose partner is expecting twins.
The ex-newsagent manager, who had been unemployed for nearly three years, said: “I dreaded not having a steady income with a family on the way.
“Ingeus helped me rewrite my CV, found vacancies for me to apply for and helped me prepare for interviews.
“I wouldn’t have got this job otherwise and I’m aiming to be a supervisor by the time the babies are toddlers!”
For 21-year-old Andrew, his sales assistant role at the Range is his first permanent job since leaving college.
Despite making a real effort to find permanent work, Andrew was only getting part-time and temporary positions before being referred to Ingeus.
He said: “It was good to have help with my applications and get encouragement not to give up.
“I’d shopped in the Range myself, so when Ingeus told me about the vacancies, I jumped at the chance.
“I really enjoy working in the gardening department, it’s a very practical job and I’ve already learnt lots of new things.”
The Range store manager, Peter Izzard, and Ingeus employer partnership coordinator Michelle Burningham forged the successful recruitment partnership, which it is hoped will spread to the retailer’s other nationwide stores.
Peter said: “I am keen to employ local people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences and that’s exactly what Ingeus has been able to provide.
“I gave Michelle our requirements and she pretty much did the rest, finding appropriate candidates, pre-interviewing them and making sure they were fully briefed about the roles on offer.
“Our Ingeus recruits have successfully completed their trial periods and are now valued members of the team.”
