A DISABLED man made jobless by a factory closure is back in work after learning new skills.

Linthwaite man David Miller, 39, lost his job with the closure of Remploy’s Halifax factory this year, part of a major shake-up of provision by Britain’s largest employer of disabled people.

Now he is back in work and learning new skills with Sowerby Bridge printers Silk Screen UK.

Mr Miller, who has City and Guilds qualifications in printing and graphic design, spent 14 years with Remploy, binding books and foil- printing book spines.

After the closure of its factory he was determined to find another job as quickly as possible. He worked with Remploy’s specialist employment advisers to improve his CV, brush up on his interview skills and search for suitable jobs.

Mr Miller, who has speech and hearing disabilities, said: “I enjoyed my time at Remploy and developed many skills.

“However, I am always keen to learn new things and when the factory closed Remploy’s employment adviser, Lynn Exley, helped me investigate new opportunities. The result was an interview with Silk Screen UK and the rest is history!”

Mr Miller now prints graphics and text on to aerosol cans and bottles.

Howard Cowley, of Silk Screen UK, said: “David’s a real asset. He has three bus journeys each way from his home, but he’s punctual, reliable and skilful; exactly what all employers look for in their workers!”

Remploy closed a number of loss-making factories this year, but promised no compulsory redundancies. It said modernising the business would enable the company to find 20,000 jobs in mainstream work for people with disabilities and health conditions by 2012.

Last year Remploy found 6,600 jobs in mainstream work for people with a range of disabilities with employers including BT, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royal Mail, the NHS, Marks & Spencer and Asda.

It retains several factories, including one at Waterloo, which makes car seat headrests for leading vehicle makers.