Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK is celebrating its win at the first annual Local Employment Partnerships (LEP) Awards.
The awards are held as part of the Government’s new partnership approach to help disadvantaged jobseekers back into employment, and recognise outstanding contributions by organisations involved in the scheme.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant has won the ‘Best Practice in Partnership Working’ category, having signed up to the initiative during its recent major recruitment drive.
To date, 249 people from the local area have accepted a job offer and begun work at the plant.
“We are delighted… Nissan working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus means we gain a valuable framework for current and ongoing recruitment of a diverse and talented and motivated workforce,” said Nissan personnel director Danny Griffiths.
Meanwhile, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform Stephen Timms praised Nissan’s “commitment to its local community through Local Employment Partnerships,” saying that the award recognised “that extra mile [the company had gone] to help some of the most disadvantaged jobseekers back into work, as well as celebrating the personal achievements of employees… whose lives are being transformed through the scheme.”