Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling paid a visit to Cannock last week in support of Prospective Conservative MP for Cannock Chase, Amanda Milling.
Mr Grayling spent an hour at the offices of Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) in Mill Street at the invitation of Ms Milling. During a round the table discussion, Mr Grayling and Ms Milling met with PPDG management and local employees to learn how the company was benefiting local job seekers and school leavers through its government contracts.
Present at the meeting were local employee Claire Peake and apprentice Scott Robinson, both of whom work in PPDG’s Cannock office. Before working for PPDG, Claire Peake helped establish a drugs addition centre in Chadsmoor, and is using her community links to benefit local job seekers. 18 year-old Scott Robinson is an apprentice with the company after completing the National Citizenship Service programme delivered across Staffordshire by Pertemps Coachright.
Scott explained that engaging with the programme was the best decision he’d ever made.
“I’ve recently been fortunate to have been involved in the design and delivery of a bid that has secured a new NCS contract for the business,” said Scott.
“I was even part of the team that made a presentation in London, which illustrates just how the company is listening to the needs of young people in Cannock.”
Mr Grayling learned about the projects supporting 16-17 year-olds and PPDG’s work with offenders including an initiative to provide more employment opportunity for those leaving prison and probation.
Amanda commented: “I have been working very closely with the team at PPDG in Cannock to help me build up a real insight into the excellent and wide-ranging services available to local constituents seeking employment, whatever their circumstances. PPDG’s work helping job seekers back into work helps to ensure that they have the security of a real job and regular pay packet and a brighter future”
“The discussion was the ideal opportunity to demonstrate to the Justice Secretary the hard work being undertaken by PPDG to ensure local job seekers are best placed to gain employment in Cannock and surrounding areas”.
In the past three years 852 local residents have received support from the Cannock team resulting in 56% of clients securing sustainable employment.