A SPECIALIST team of recruitment professionals has been appointed by Remploy to roll out a new employment programme in Worcester, which will find jobs for people with disabilities or health conditions.

Remploy, the UK's leading provider of employment services for disabled people, has been awarded the contract to deliver the Government's Pathways to Work programme across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire from the end of April.

The new team will work in partnership with Jobcentre Plus to support people with health conditions and disabilities to make the move into employment.

They will be based at Remploy's new recruitment branch in Virginia House, the Butts, Worcester.

With more than 42,000 people receiving incapacity benefit across the Marches, and 3,500 of those living in Worcester, the branch team will play an important part in bringing together employers and jobseekers looking to move from benefits.

Pathways to Work provides extra help for people on incapacity benefit to find work.

It includes support from highly skilled personal advisors, including additional work focused interviews, ground-breaking rehabilitation support, a return-to- work credit of £40 a week, and in-work support.

Heading the new Worcester team is branch manager, Steven Brown. He will oversee a team of six specialist recruitment advisors, liaise with partner organisations and community groups, and ensure the branch delivers its objective of supporting people with disabilities and health conditions into work.

He will also be responsible for a Remploy satellite branch in Evesham.

Working alongside Mr Brown is account manager, Steven Green, with both managers reporting to regional manager Matt Fellows.

Commenting on the new appointments, Beth Carruthers, Remploy's director of employment services said: "Pathways to Work will be an important service for job seekers in Worcester and it's vital that we have an experienced and qualified team to provide the specialist support required."