AS unemployment rises, the importance and size of York-based company Inspire 2 Independence (i2i) grows.

In the seven years since it was formed, i2i’s role of providing people with skills and making them employable has gone nationwide, with 310 of its staff dedicated to supporting and encouraging individuals with major life challenges to prepare for work opportunities and improve skills.

Since July 4, 2004, the company has supported more than 30,000 disadvantaged job seekers towards sustainable employment.

This has been supplemented by its i2i Coaching Academies based at premier football and sports clubs, where people get innovative management training and sports and activity-based learning.

This is why i2i is pitching for both the Large Business Of The Year and Best Business and Community Link titles in The Press Business Awards 2011.

The firm, which moved into larger headquarters in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, has a direct contract with Job Centre Plus and links with the Department of Work and Pensions and The Skills Funding Agency as well as sub contracts with major organisations that pitch for the task, including security conglomerates Serco and G4S.

Mark Cosens, i2i’s business development manager, says: “Challenges our customers face are diverse and interconnected.

“Whether dealing with debt, alcohol, or drug addictions, struggling to arrange childcare, coping with mental health conditions, facing up to a criminal past, lacking skills, being physically disabled or even struggling to communicate in English, i2i helps to address these barriers and discover what individuals can do to achieve and remain in employment.”

At the same time the firm generates opportunities through employers “who find what loyal, committed employees they gain as they offer chances”.

As i2i reduces costly recruitment “hassle”, and offers employer-led screening plus training, employers get focused job candidates, he says.