PLANS to shape a five-year programme to bring jobs to more than 12,000 people in north-east Yorkshire and the Humber have begun in earnest in York.

The first meeting of the organisations that will deliver the Government’s new Work Programme in the region from June 1 was arranged by G4S at the Pavilion Hotel, in Fulford.

G4S was recently named as one of the prime contracting organisations to deliver the new Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Work Programme – the Coalition Government’s flagship employment initiative – in the region.

It has brought together a group of partners led by “job brokers”, York-based employment support organisations such as Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) of Holgate Road; national training provider Inspire 2 Independence, in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton; and Renovo, the recruitment consultancy at King’s House.

Also involved are City Works of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and SOVA, a charity which helps to integrate ex-offenders into the community.

Every jobseeker seen by job brokers on the work programme will get individual support from one of its dedicated personal advisers.

Their work will be supported by more than 90 local organisations providing a wide range of specialist help – such as assistance with training, debt, health problems, drug or alcohol issues, child care and housing difficulties – to tackle the problems many face in getting and holding down a good job.

Once in work, all individuals will receive in-work support to tackle any remaining barriers to sustaining employment.

This will be provided either through the job brokers or by Renovo, which offers a new “back to work” support service called Workfriend to help people make the often challenging shift into working life.

Gary Kernaghan, G4S regional partnership manager for North East Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We will work with a huge range of partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver a really high quality service that will link local people with real jobs, prepare them for work and give them ongoing support to deal with issues that are holding them back.”