TWO Government initiatives aimed at helping unemployed people to find work have been launched by a Teesside employment service.

Working Links is run jointly by the employment service, Manpower and Ernst and Young. It aims to get people into jobs by breaking down barriers that have prevented them from working.

This could mean paying for clothes, driving lessons, training courses or equipment. Jobseekers are allocated a personal advisor who will support them through the job search process and in the early stages of employment.

The organisation has also introduced employment zones and action teams for jobs in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough.

The organisation operates from two sites - Training and Enterprise House, Middlesbrough and Redcar Business Centre, with smaller offices in Guisborough and Loftus.

Zone director Brian Bell said: "Our aim is to provide a first-class service to help eligible people to move into work. Our tremendous success so far shows we are able to work with people looking for jobs and employers, who often struggle to fill jobs with the right people.

"Working Links has set up a dedicated team to help employers to fill vacancies. If required we are able to back up this support with financial help."