A COMPANY helping people into sustained employment has been awarded a flagship contract as part of the Governments £5bn Work Programme.

Business Employment Services Training Ltd, which has offices at Highfields in Huddersfield and Station Road in Batley, will deliver the programme across West Yorkshire.

The Leeds-based company has 16 offices across the county with 350 staff and has so far helped more than 60,000 people into work.

Managing director Michelle Manson said it was an enormous achievement to be awarded the contract to carry out the most comprehensive, ambitious and important government initiative ever launched in the area of welfare.

She said the Work Programme contract would enable BESTs experienced teams to engage with some of the most vulnerable people in local communities, helping them secure sustainable employment to the benefit of all concerned.

The contract for West Yorkshire will be delivered over seven-year terms. As prime contractor, BEST will work with three partners to deliver the core programme A4e, Remploy and Skills for Work as well as specialist organisations bringing expertise to specific areas of programme delivery.

The Work Programme will help assist and support jobseekers and businesses in areas such as building core and vocational skills, developing self-confidence and working with local business to match customers skills to employers needs.

As part of the programme, BEST will also offer up to two years in-work support.

Said Michelle: We live and work here in Yorkshire, we know its people, its economy and since our inception BEST has developed close and ongoing ties with many of the regions leading employers who put their trust in our abilities.

She added: We are particularly excited about the opportunity of providing local solutions to local unemployed people enhancing their quality of life by enabling them to get away from welfare dependency into work and, importantly, applying our expertise to support the economic growth of our region.