A scheme to help the long-term unemployed back to work has reached a significant milestone after supporting 20,000 people in a bid to get them back into employment.

Staff at Norwich's newly-opened Poundworld store are among the latest recruits on the programme helped back into work after the firm teamed up with employment specialist Ingeus to help 36 local people back into work.

Ingeus delivers the government's Work Programme in the East of England, and is tasked with giving jobseekers the skills and confidence they need to find jobs – working closely with employers to recruit unemployed people for their vacancies.

Andrew Wells, 45, from Old Catton, is a successful member of the team after being recruited as a supervisor at the new store following 18 months out of work.

'I really struggled with job applications on my own, but Ingeus helped me with my CV, covering letters and interview technique,' he said.

'During the recruitment process, which included an induction to Poundworld, I was asked if I'd like to apply for a supervisor's position, so I jumped at the chance. I'm so looking forward to being able to treat the family and having something new and exciting to fill my days.'

His colleague, Toby Doddridge, 31, from Bowthorpe, who has been out of work for two years said finding a new role helped end a frustrating job search.

He said: 'It can be very isolating being out of work and I'm already enjoying being part of such a busy team again here at Poundworld.

'I had such a mix of roles on my CV that I think employers were put off, but Ingeus helped me focus on my core skills and I decided that a retail job would be just right for me.'

Andrew Jeffrey, Poundworld's regional HR champion, said: 'We've recruited a really talented team here in Norwich and are proud to be giving so many local people the chance they deserve to get back to work. There's every opportunity for people to progress within the organisation and this team has proven itself in the last few weeks' training and, of course, on our very busy opening day.'

Mark Adams, from Ingeus's employer services team, helped to identify suitable applicants for the Poundworld vacancies and said: 'It's thanks to proactive employers like Poundworld that we've just reached the milestone of supporting 20,000 people on the work programme into employment across the East of England.

'We provide a free-of-charge recruitment service to employers of all sizes and industries and are delighted to have played such a crucial part in the successful opening of the new Poundworld Norwich store.'

Did you find your dream job? Email shaun.lowthorpe@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772471.