06 June 2008 – 20 UK employers reach shortlist for new national employment awards

Tesco, Nissan Motors and Marriott Hotels are among the 20 UK employers which have made it onto the shortlist for the first annual Local Employment Partnerships (LEP) Awards.

The finalists are in the running to win one of four employer, or two individual, awards which recognise outstanding contributions made by employers, employees and partners involved in LEPs - the Government’s new partnership approach to help long-term benefit claimants back into work.

A wide range of employers from national companies including Capital Life and Pensions, to local businesses like Tulip Cleaning Services in Malvern, and public sector organisations such as Coventry City Council, have been shortlisted.

Meanwhile, three employees from Asda, Randstad Inhouse Services and Coventry City Council, who up until last year, were all long-term unemployed, are in the running for the award which recognises individual success in “overcoming barriers to employment.”

Stephen Timms, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, said:

“Each of the shortlisted employers has demonstrated a commitment to their local community through Local Employment Partnerships. The LEP Awards recognise those employers who go the extra mile to help some of the most disadvantaged jobseekers back into work, as well as celebrating the personal achievements of employees whose lives are being transformed through the scheme.”

The winners will be announced at an inaugural Awards presentation ceremony at the Brit Oval in London on 1 July.  The winners will be selected by a judging panel, drawn from the public and private sector. The panel, chaired by Stephen Timms, includes:

• John Cridland, Deputy Director General CBI
• Chris Humphries, Chief Executive, Commission for Employment and Skills
• David Lammy, Minister for Skills
• Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary TUC
• Jackie Orme, Chief Executive, CIPD
• Helen Reynolds, Acting Chief Executive, Recruitment and Employment Federation
• Andrew Taylor, Employment Editor, Financial Times

For further information about the awards visit http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/employers/lep/awards/

Notes to Editors

The shortlisted employers are as follows:

• Employer award for work-life balance
  • Capita Life and Pensions
  • Tesco
  • Tulip Cleaning Services
• Employer award for best practice in recruitment
  • Debenhams, North Wales
  • London Central/ General Buses
  • Tesco
  • The Village Hotel
• Employer award for best practice in career progression
  • Marriott Hotels
  • Norfolk County Services
  • Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel
• Partnership award for best practice in partnership working
  • Coventry City Council
  • Debenhams/ Liverpool ONE
  • Nissan Motors
  • Tameside Employment Partnership
• Individual Award for success in overcoming barriers to employment
  • Mark Farrell (Asda Harrogate)
  • Muhammed Tahir (Randstad Inhouse Services)
  • Trevor Chandler (Coventry City Council)
• Individual award for outstanding achievement in learning and training
  • Gary Fuller (Exemplar Healthcare)
  • Duncan Ferguson (Stellar UK)
  • Chris Gernon (HSBC)

Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) are based on a ‘deal’ with employers:

• The Government, through Jobcentre Plus, takes steps to understand employers’ requirements and gets disadvantaged people ready for work;
• Employers with vacancies give people a fair shot at the job – through a range of measures which might include adjusting recruitment processes, offering work trials or guaranteed interviews, work placements, mentoring etc.
• As of the beginning of June 2008, nearly 9,000 people have found work through LEP with more than 1400 employers.

Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work.

For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

 

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