Michelle Leeson, Managing Director of GC Employment, pictured against the Sheffield skyline. — (Pictured right): Michelle Leeson, Managing Director of GC Employment.

GC Employment helps over 3,000 people get into new jobs in South Yorkshire

Thousands of people in South Yorkshire have started new jobs with the help of GC Employment.

The programmes it runs are aimed at making a lasting difference by supporting individuals to gain meaningful employment, improving their quality of life for both their families and for their communities.

Between July 2022 and July 2023, GC Employment has helped 3,309 people in South Yorkshire to start new jobs, engaging with a total 5,763 people across the region through its Restart programme.

Stephen is just one of the people who has benefitted from GC Employment’s services in South Yorkshire, having taken part in the Winning Ways course, run with Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme as part of its Personal Wellbeing Service.

The Personal Wellbeing Service offers an 8-week course to help people on probation develop the necessary skills and knowledge to lead healthier and more fulfilled lives, cutting their chances of re-offending in the process.

The GC team delivers weekly educational classes focused on enhancing participants’ emotional wellbeing. Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme hosts parallel physical activity sessions, which incorporate circuit training, gym workouts, and football.

Stephen had previously been a chef but hadn’t cooked for a long time, but after taking part in employability programmes, he was taken on by Sheffield Wednesday on a casual basis to work as a chef on match days.

Stephen said: “The course was eight weeks and I enjoyed every minute of it. It led to better things and I ended up with a 20-hour contract working as a chef.” He now has the goal of setting up his own business.

Michelle Leeson, Managing Director of GC Employment, commented: “We’re delighted to see stories like Stephen’s, which demonstrate that behind the overall statistics are individual tales of resilience and drive.

“At a time when so many people are struggling, the work that GC Employment and its partners does is so important to give them the chance to gain the support, the training and the opportunities they need to find and keep jobs so they can support themselves and their families.”

The Growth Company delivers employment services across the north of England, with a 2022/23 turnover of £50m, with recent expansions of its employment and justice services as well as new specialist markets including finance, benefit and debt, peer mentoring, refugee support and specialist health programmes.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily