A family-run garden and landscaping centre in Roydon, near Harlow, is paving the way for long-term unemployed people to get back to work, thanks to a new partnership with local Work Programme provider Ingeus.

Bonnies Oak Garden Centre has just recruited Ingeus client Marc Jackson from Harlow and is also providing work experience with a view to employing another client who has severe Asperger Syndrome.

Ingeus, based at Crown Gate, offers a free service to employers of all sizes and industries to source unemployed candidates for vacancies. When father and son team Graham and Daniel Wilson from Bonnies Oak heard of the service, they quickly provided details of their roles. The Ingeus team reviewed their needs and recommended plasterer Marc for a landscaping position.

Marc, 37, had been self employed, but struggled to support his family of four children with only sporadic periods of work over the past five years. Referred to Ingeus in March by Jobcentre Plus as part of the government’s Work Programme, he was assisted in developing a new CV and fine-tuning his interview skills before being recommended to Bonnies Oak.

“It’s great to be able to use my practical skills and have such an active working life,” said Marc, who now spends his days building sheds and patios, erecting fencing and landscaping gardens at customers’ homes.

“Getting back to work and having a regular income has given the whole family a new lease of life.

“In my spare time I also coach a youth football team so I’m glad to now be a good role model to the lads.”

Bonnies Oak worked with Patricia Martin from Ingeus’ Employer Services team to find their new recruits. Patricia said:

“Bonnies Oak is a perfect example of a small, family-run business with a proactive attitude to giving local unemployed, and sometimes disadvantaged, people a chance. They needed someone versatile and practical and Marc fit the bill perfectly.”

Ingeus will support Marc and its other client at the centre for up to two years and hopes there will be further new recruits.

Ingeus’ services extend from small scale recruitment for single vacancies to handling the entire recruitment process for a national chain. Employers with vacancies interested in Ingeus’ free of charge recruitment services can visit www.ingeus.co.uk/employers or contact Ingeus in Harlow on 0127 962 0030.