A scheme to get unemployed east Manchester residents into work has so far helped secure 100 people with jobs in the construction industry and offer training to over three hundred local people.

The employment initiative was set up 18 months ago by urban regeneration company, New East Manchester, The Manchester College and not-for-profit recruitment agency Work Solutions.

The one hundredth person to get a job, Chris Leary aged 28 from Openshaw in east Manchester is the first person from the scheme to be employed by contractors PDR Construction Ltd on the Openshaw district centre site, developed by Dransfield Properties, where they're building the new Morrison's superstore.

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Chris, who started his job this week was given support from career's advisors to get back into work after being unemployed for 18 months. He was given a place on the East Manchester Construction Training Centre's General Construction Operations course, run by The Manchester College, which he completed last November.

Chris said: "The training course was really good and gave me a whole new set of skills. To get a job in the construction industry is something I've always wanted so this is a real dream come true. It's also great to find work so close to home."

Carol Bartram, Head of Economic Development at New East Manchester said: "Supporting local people by giving them the necessary skills to get back into the job market is a vital part of our regeneration work. It's fantastic that in just 18 months 300 local people have benefited from courses at the construction training centre and 100 local people have been supported to find work."

(CD/GK)