Award-winning charity, The Recruitment Junction, has officially opened a new office in Durham, expanding its specialist employment support into a region currently lacking dedicated provision of this kind.
The launch event was supported by Ian Baggett of Adderstone Foundation and Professor Simon Forest who is Principal of Ian’s old College, The College of St Hild and St Bede at Durham University.
The event celebrated the 976 people the Recruitment Junction has supported into work over the past five years, and brought together partners, employers and individuals whose lives have been transformed through its services.
Supporting people with convictions into sustainable employment, The Recruitment Junction works closely with employers to create pathways into meaningful work – helping individuals rebuild their lives while enabling businesses to access a committed and often overlooked talent pool. The charity also maintains a job retention rate of 70% at the six month mark, supported by its wraparound services.
The event brought together partners from across the justice, education and employment sectors, alongside individuals supported by the charity. A panel discussion featuring Jonathan Kershaw (Director, Adderstone Construction), Emma-Louise Smith (Senior Site Manager, SUEZ), Jessica Mellor-Clark (formerly Be:Lendlease) and Jon Floyd (Co-Founder, Inside Job) explored how businesses can play a critical role in creating opportunities and supporting long-term change.
In his introductory speech, Professor Simon Forrest said: “When Ian got in touch, we didn’t hesitate to support. As one of our most loyal alumni, we’ve followed his professional journey closely and it’s amazing to see him using that success to support such impactful work.”
Beverley Brooks, CEO of The Recruitment Junction, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have opened an office in Durham, allowing us to support so many more people who have, until now, not had access to the kind of specialist help we provide.
“The support of longstanding partners like Adderstone is invaluable. It ultimately allows us to help more people access that vital second chance.”
Ian Baggett, Founder of Adderstone Group, added: “I am proud to count hundreds of people with past convictions as colleagues and former colleagues.
“Adderstone is a company driven by purpose, and affording these people a second chance motivates us all – often far more than the help we give them.”
With its new Durham base, The Recruitment Junction aims to support hundreds more individuals across County Durham into employment, working in partnership with local employers to build stronger, more inclusive communities.
