UNEMPLOYED people are being given the opportunity to follow their dreams.

Hugh McGouran, the new boss of Pertemps Employment Alliance, in Albert Road Middlesbrough, has pledged to help anybody who wants to achieve their ambition.

He said: "We have got the resources to get people to work, whether it is transport, clothing or training, we can find a way round it, even if is just a suit and a taxi fare for an interview.

"Our programme is totally flexible and as big as your imagination."

Pertemps has won the Employment Zone contract for South Tees and the Working Neighbourhoods project in the town's Thorntree area, which is one of only 12 projects across the country.

Operations manager Mr McGouran, 43, from Middlesbrough, has had an extremely colourful life and hopes to help others into gainful employment.

He played drums in a band that almost made the big time, was homeless for a while in Dublin and worked as a sales rep for companies from Volvo to L'Oreal.

At 32 he gave up his job and took an access course, signing up for Job Seekers Allowance then spent four years at the University of Teesside on a public administration course, supplementing his income by a variety of means from working as a shopfitter to renting out his house before working his way into advising others via Stockton Borough Council and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Anyone who has been unemployed for 18 months or more and wants to know more is asked to call (01642) 204401.