Aston Pride, one of the second round of New Deal for Communities  (NDC) Partnerships, has embarked on a £1.3m project to help more than 500 residents of Aston, in Birmingham, back into work.

Aston Pride’s Employment Connections 2009-11 initiative focuses on outreach and engagement of hard-to-reach clients in the area who need targeted support through bespoke employer-led training and development programmes.  

The Employment Connections 2009-11 contract was won by Pertemps People Development Group, working in partnership with the Bangladeshi Youth Forum and will be managed and administered by Birmingham City Council’s Planning and Regeneration Team.

Simon Topman, Aston Pride’s independent chairman, says: “Employment Connections is one of Aston Pride’s flagship projects. To get over 500 residents into sustainable employment would be fantastic for the area where we have significant levels of unemployment. The approach delivered in this programme has built on what was learnt in phase one, and will have a real impact on the future of many Aston Pride residents.“