A Northamptonshire-based plumbing company has reached the finals of a national business charity award scheme, having been recognised for its efforts regarding helping homeless people into work.
Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS) has been working with Leicestershire Cares, an organisation that helps ex-offenders and homeless people to retrain for professional employment. PTS has provided 32 work placements so far for Leicestershire Cares clients through its Homelessness Project and, as a result, has reached the finals of the Business Charity Awards.
The coordinator of the Homelessness Project, Ian Hall, told the Northampton Herald and Post that they were delighted to be in the finals for the award, but even more pleased to have provided opportunities for people most in need of them.
“Clients coming to PTS to gain experience or to refresh existing skills benefit from a boost in confidence, with 66 per cent of those completing a placement going into employment,” he said. “Seeing the change that just two weeks of time can make to someone’s life is amazing and has its own rewards in terms of the morale of our team.”
Hall said that the people on the placements have been able to learn professional plumbing skills and Leicestershire Cares director, Monica Kimche, said that the company has provided some invaluable training opportunities and provided a real benefit to the local community.
“PTS and its staff make a huge difference to the lives of Leicestershire men and women who face daunting obstacles when re-joining the world of work,” she told the newspaper. “It is good to see their achievements recognised. We wish them lots of luck and hope they win the award.”