A SCHEME which aims to help jobseekers across County Durham back into work has cooked up another success.

The Employability Project is funded by local action partnerships across the county and operated by Durham County Council.

Barbara Collier, from Cockfield, is now settling in to her new role at Barnard castle-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) after receiving help from the project.

Working with mentoring officer Silvia Coates, Mrs Collier retrained, achieved her Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate and bagged a job with contract catering company Sudexo, which runs the restaurant at GSK.

Mrs Collier said: “Silvia was really friendly and listened to me and helped me get my life back on track. Without this support and help I wouldn’t have got this job.”

Andrew Riley, Sodexo general service manager, said: “She has flourished in the team environment and has excellent customer service skills.”

Teesdale Action Partnership co-ordinator, Craig Morgan, added: “We want to support local people back in to work and the project is obviously doing just that.

“We are really pleased with the outcomes of the project as we know that Barbara and many others are in work because of it.”

The project gives dedicated help and support to the unemployed in Teesdale, Weardale, Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Crook, Tow Law, Willington and Spennymoor. For further details, contact 03000-262383.