Ingeus

3rd November, 2011

Three men have returned to working cleaning up the Metro thanks to a new partnership between Churchill Contract Services and local employment services company, Ingeus.

John Hunter, Davy Wilkinson and Lee Walton have just joined a team of around 90 cleaning professionals from Churchill who work at the city’s Metro stations, maintaining high standards for thousands of passengers each day.

Churchill’s determination to employ local people on their recently-won cleaning contract led to the partnership with Ingeus, which operates the government’s Work Programme in the region.

The programme is aimed at people who have been unemployed for more than a year, and supports them with a range of job-seeking services including writing an effective CV, learning how to get the most from interviews and searching for suitable jobs.

John, who is 50 and from Lynemouth, spent 25 years managing farms before having to resign four years ago to care for his wife, who was then terminally ill.

"After such a long time out of work, the propsect of job searching and going for interviews was quite scary," he said. "However, with the close support of Ingeus, I was able to overcome my nerves and break the cycle of rejection letters.”

Similarly, Davy Wilkinson from Choppington values the encouragement he received from Ingeus. A former construction worker, Davy is used to hard work, but found it impossible to get a job without support.

"As soon as Ingeus stepped in, my prospects improved considerably," he said. "I was beginning to think I would never work again and, at just 33, this was not a pleasant prospect. I really wanted to have a job and now, being back in employment, my self-esteem has been boosted considerably.”

Previously, 46-year-old Lee Walton worked for a major retailer, delivering and installing domestic appliances throughout the city. However, the recession led to him being made redundant. He had spent the past two years completing endless job applications, but to no avail.

“I soon found out that the competition for each job vacancy was intense, and whilst I do have a range of skills, Ingeus taught me how to sell myself in the best possible way. They arranged for me to be interviewed by Churchill, and I was appointed there and then!"

“Ingeus provides a really valuable service in helping us fill our vacancies with motivated candidates who are ready to work,” said Louisa Clarke from Churchill Contract Services. “Our contract to clean Metro stations means we are constantly looking for people with the right attitude and transferrable skills. John, Davy and Lee are excellent examples of how, working together, we can find people who really want to work.”