Award recognises Meriden firm’s efforts to get more people into work

February 29th, 2024

One of the country’s leading recruitment specialists has been given an award for its innovation and leadership in removing barriers to employment and boosting social mobility

Tracy Evans, Pertemps Group HR and Quality Director, with Carmen Watson, Pertemps Group Chair

Pertemps Network Group has been named a Purpose Coalition Champion by the organisation, headed by former Education Secretary Justine Greening, in its annual awards.

The Purpose Coalition said West Midlands-based Pertemps had demonstrated exceptional leadership on the Levelling Up agenda and its “desire to use its convening power as a force for good”.

The Breaking Down Barriers award came as Pertemps and the Purpose Coalition launched their new Workforce of the Future report in Westminster, following a series of meetings with industry leaders, setting out recommendations about how to better support those who are furthest from the job market.

Carmen Watson, Chair of Pertemps Network Group, which has its headquarters in Meriden, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been recognised with this award for our work on social mobility.

“The work we have been doing with The Purpose Coalition over the last couple of years is incredibly important. It started with us looking at our own organisation to identify good practices in helping hard-to-reach groups into work and how best to share that we others, as recorded in our Impact Report.

“Following on from this, we convened a series of roundtables with industry and public-sector organisations, to discuss our shared challenges and how best to address them.

“The results of this were published in our Workforce report last week.

“We are now looking to the next steps – putting tangible programmes into place with our partners, to help remove barriers to employment and support the Levelling Up agenda.

“This is a journey – one where we feel we are adding real value and one we feel very proud to be a part of.”

Rt Hon Justine Greening said: “These awards are testament to the creativity and determination of those who have put social mobility at the top of their agendas.

“Pertemps is leading the way and I want to congratulate them personally for the commitment they have shown to spreading equality of opportunity. I hope their achievements will inspire others to look at their own organisations and communities to see where they could also make a difference.

“We are shaping the agenda like never before, at party conferences, with ministers and shadow ministers and through our policy roundtables. I know that, collectively, we will continue to explore innovative solutions to break down barriers and unlock potential.”