Interserve Regulatory News (IRV)

4 Apr 2011 09:22

INTERSERVE JOINT VENTURE AWARDED £130m CONTRACTS IN DWP's WORK PROGRAMME

Rehab JobFit, a 50:50 joint venture between Interserve and Rehab Group, has been awarded preferred provider status to deliver the Department for Work and Pensions' new Work Programme in Wales and the south-west of England. The combined contract value will be approximately £130 million over five years.

The Work Programme will replace all existing welfare-to-work programmes and focus on achieving long-term employment outcomes. The announcement of the contract awards was made by Prime Minister David Cameron at one of Rehab JobFit's sites in Gloucester where the programme will be delivered. It is expected that the first participants will commence on the programme in June.

Over 100,000 people are expected to benefit from vocational training, skills development and employment-focused support during the five-year period of the contract. The Rehab JobFit partnership will deliver the programme using its own training and employment resources and a supply chain of local organisations.

Adrian Ringrose, Interserve Chief Executive, commented, "As a major employer, Interserve has long had a commitment to enhancing the education and skills of its employees and has been a pioneer in working with government to develop a range of training programmes. These Work Programme contracts enable us to take that commitment a stage further by helping the long-term unemployed find meaningful and sustainable employment. The fresh and dynamic Rehab JobFit partnership brings together Interserve's experience of managing supply chains and delivering services effectively to government with Rehab Group's strong track record in supporting people to achieve the skills they need to build lasting careers."

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For further information please contact:

Giles Scott 0118 960 2307 Head of Corporate Communications Elizabeth Morley / Tom Eckersley / Sam Turvey 020 7379 5151 Maitland

About Interserve

Interserve's vision is to be the Trusted Partner of all our stakeholders. We are one of the world's foremost support services and construction companies, operating in the public and private sectors in the UK and internationally. We offer advice, design, construction, equipment and facilities management services for society's infrastructure. Interserve is based in the UK, has revenue of £1.9 billion and a workforce of nearly 50,000 people worldwide. Website: www.interserve.com.

About Rehab Group

The Rehab Group is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which provides training, employment, health and social care and commercial services for some 46,000 people each year. It holds significant contracts for the delivery of government-funded welfare to work programmes, and has over 60 years' experience in the provision of training, education, health and social care, employability support and employment services. Rehab works with people who are long-term unemployed, others who are marginalised and people with a wide range of disabilities to enable them to secure their futures and build lasting careers. Rehab has a turnover of £180 million and provides services in four EU member states. Website: www.rehab.ie.