Jobs@Pertemps, in partnership with the National Grid call centre in Gloucester, has won a prestigious award from Remploy for its inclusion of people with disabilities and health conditions.

Remploy is the UK’s leading provider of employment opportunities for people with disabilities and health conditions. Its Leading the Way awards are presented annually to those companies and organisations that make outstanding efforts in the employment and development of disabled people. Jobs@Pertemps, which provides staff for the National Grid call centre on Bristol Road, has won the Midlands regional award in the ‘medium-sized employer’ section, beating off competition from other organisations in an area stretching from Nottinghamshire to the southern counties.

Remploy senior manager Mike Clarke was a member of the judging panel for the Midlands region and presented Jobs@Pertemps with its award. He paid tribute to both Jobs@Pertemps and National Grid for their successful partnership, and remarked how their entry stood out from the rest. “It is clear that these two organisations really go the extra mile in ensuring equality for all, and they’re managed by a team that is passionate about employing, retaining and developing people with disabilities alongside other colleagues in the organisation,” he said.

Remploy’s chief executive Bob Warner added, “We’ve been particularly impressed with the standard of entries this year, which demonstrates that enlightened employers really do understand the many benefits of a diverse workforce,” he said. “Winners appreciate the abilities disabled people bring to the workplace, and are also meeting government targets and their social obligations. Leading the Way is a true celebration, but there is a very important business message behind it. Both Jobs@Pertemps and National Grid have embraced this, and I offer them my congratulations.”

Jobs@Pertemps now goes into the national final, which takes place in London on Wednesday 22 November 2006.