Cash boost helps jobless find work
Feb 6 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal
ARECRUITMENT agency aimed at helping North-East businesses find workers from the ranks of the long-term unemployed has been given an £850,000 cash boost.
People Acumen, which is run by the Acumen Development Trust has received cash from One NorthEast to help its expansion plans.
The agency, started by social entrepreneur Kate Welch OBE operates from Acumen’s Peterlee base and has two outlets at Seaham and Bishop Auckland, with a third planned for Stanley.
Margaret Fay, chairman of One NorthEast, officially launched People Acumen and officially opened Acumen Development Trust’s new premises on Peterlee’s South-West Industrial estate earlier this week.
Mrs Fay said: “The work done by Kate and her team at Acumen cannot be underestimated. Not only does the organisation target those people who are out of work and help them find sustainable employment, but it also works to boost skills levels, which is an essential element of the economic regeneration of our region.
“People Acumen has been created to address the unemployment issues in the County Durham area, and to also meet the needs of local employers looking to expand their workforce.
“But what’s exciting about it is that it doesn’t just aim to match out of work individuals with employers who are seeking staff, it also provides them both with support to ensure the match is as long lasting as possible.
“In effect, People Acumen is about promoting and driving sustainable economic growth, a key aim of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), and therefore I am delighted One NorthEast is supporting it.”
Acumen Development Trust was founded in 2003, it now employs around 80 people with a turnover £3.5m and in 2006 it won the LSC Working in the Community Award for encouraging people into learning.
Mrs Welch, is a One NorthEast board member received an OBE in the recent New Year Honours list for services to social enterprise in the region.
She said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to create a new social enterprise in the region which meets both the needs of individuals in our communities and also small employers.
“Today is a celebration of the success we have had so far in addressing economic inclusion and anticipation of an exciting and enterprising future.”
The work of the Acumen Development Trust is linked to the RES, which aims to increase North-East employment rates to around 73% – which means getting between 61,000 and 73,000 extra people into jobs by 2016.
