17/11/09 Support for new additional services
Regional minister Nick Brown has shown his support for BE-NE's recent addition of the North East Employer Coalition (NEEC) to its portfolio of business support services.
Nick Brown MP visited the HQ in Seaham, endorsing the new partnership and praising the work of the NEEC.
The North East Employer Coalition and Business & Enterprise North East (BE-NE) have established a new partnership that will enable the North East Employer Coalition to continue its work with employers and regional employment and skills agencies here in the North East.
The Employer Coalition was established during 1998 with the remit to engage employers to help develop the Welfare to Work system with the focus being to provide jobs for people who for many years have been outside the labour market due to disabilities, health related problems or long term unemployment.
The Employer Coalition has helped over 5000 people return to work over the previous 10 years through its work with employers, regional agencies and partners.
Nick Brown MP said: “I am delighted that the NEEC will continue its work with employers and partners bringing both public and private sector expertise in the development of employment and skills. Partnership working with BENE will provide additional opportunities to work with a much wider employer base that will be of great benefit to both organisations.”
Chris Thompson, Chair of Employer Coalition, said: "As Chair of the Employer Coalition as well as Co-Chair of the Regional Employment & Skills Partnership I am delighted the Coalition and BE-NE teams will be working closely together. This will bring an even greater employer focus to the Welfare to Work system.”
Alistair MacColl, Business & Enterprise North East Chief Executive added: “It is more important than ever that we maximise people’s employment prospects and reach out by providing effective solutions to assist communities that have been adversely affected by unemployment.
“These are goals that the NEEC team has been continually striving for and we now look forward to further enhancing what the organisation can offer through teaming its work up with that of the other support services in the BE-NE portfolio.”
Jobcentre Plus Customer Service Director Jan Thirlaway also attended the visit and said: “I am particularly please to support and endorse the work of the Employer Coalition, which over the years has been highly successful in helping disadvantaged people gain worthwhile jobs and career opportunities.”
Chris Thompson, Jan Thirlaway, Alastair MacColl, Howard Forrest and Nick Brown MP
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