A Harrogate social enterprise that provides work and skills training for people with learning, physical and mental health related disabilities has taken on two of its trainees as permanent employees.
John Bowes and Gregory Peters were both nearing completion of a tailored work preparation programme at the social enterprise at Hammerain House when the two jobs came up as a result of increased demand for the organisation’s business support services.
Manager, Damien Handslip said:
Paperworks created the roles after agreeing a long term collaboration with Harrogate printing firm Platinum Print and John and Gregory were both at the stage of applying for work at the time.
John started attending Paperworks after being made redundant from his job after 22 years.
John said:
Working here has given me confidence and valuable experience with computers and CV writing.
It’s a very supportive environment with training that matched my needs.
When I was ready for work the staff arranged mock interviews with a local company to help me prepare.
Gregory had been out of work for six years before coming to Paperworks as a trainee.
Damien said the two jobs were part of a wider expansion project for Paperworks, which recently opened a second workshop in Leeds.
Damien said:
We have secured a significant volume of work recently and we expect to be advertising more permanent jobs in the near future.
