A SCHEME aimed at recruiting the unemployed in Newcastle is well ahead of schedule.

Getting Newcastle Working, which started in April with the aim of creating 40 jobs by March next year, has already secured employment for 30 people.

Run by Tomorrow's People, Getting Newcastle Working is funded by the European Social Fund and the Newcastle Employment Bond.

A donation of £31,000 was recently received from drinks company Guinness to support the work of the initiative.

In addition, the project is being developed in collaboration with Northern Rock, North British Housing and Newcastle City Council.

Christine Budd, local operations manager of Tomorrow's People, said: "We are delighted with achieving such great results early in the initiative.

"Both the companies and individuals we are working with are superb, and have worked hard to enable the initiative to achieve this success.

"Getting Newcastle Working is good for the individual, the recruiting company and has wider benefits to Newcastle and economic success."

The scheme aims to become the city's leading labour market intermediary, reducing long-term unemployment in Newcastle, while securing sustainable employment and meeting employers' recruitment needs.

It is working with more than 200 companies on Tyneside, reviewing their recruitment processes to make them more accessible to the unemployed.

For more information on how to get involved with the Getting Newcastle Working initiative, contact Ms Budd on 0191-261 6242.