The TNG team in Darlington are celebrating having supported their 100th customer into work since the Flexible New Deal programme started in October 2009.

After a year of being unemployed, he was referred to TNG on the Flexible New Deal programme for help with finding a job.

The 100th customer is Noel, who had been unemployed since December 2008 after being made redundant from his job as an industrial cleaner at the height of the recession. Having been an industrial cleaner since leaving school, Noel understandably felt despondent and low in confidence to find himself suddenly without a job.

During his initial meetings with his adviser Wendy Cooke, Noel expressed an interest in returning to a job as an industrial cleaning which would allow him to utilise the extensive experience he had gained to date. Andy Fenner, Employer Relations Manager, called upon his local contacts and secured a vacancy with MJF Cleaning. Noel was successful in getting the job and was thrilled to find himself back in work within two weeks of joining the FND programme.

Emma Clafton, Business Manager said,

"We are a small centre but achieving this milestone is huge testament to the hard work and commitment that the team display every day. Supporting 100 customers into employment is impressive enough but when you take into account our low customer numbers on programme it is an even bigger achievement. I'm so proud of the team in Darlington and can only hope that this goes some way to giving them the recognition that they deserve."