MORE than 30 New Deal clients from Sunderland have scored a huge success with their employers and, as a result, have been honoured at a ceremony at the Stadium of Light last week.

The trainees have all been highly commended by either their employer or training provider, and were nominated for an award in recognition of the excellence they have achieved since embarking on their pathway to a new job.

They were presented with their awards by Steve Pallas, Training and Development Manager from Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK who are sponsoring the award ceremony.

John Moiser, New Deal Business Manager for Employment Service explained that more than 2,000 New Deal clients had been helped into work through New Deal since it began in April 1998.

This had been possible because of the innovative and forward thinking partnerships developed by the Employment Service, local agencies training providers and public and private sector employers in Wearside.

He continued: "By developing these links we have provided a comprehensive service to meet the needs of local unemployed people.

"Many of our clients have used these opportunities to improve their skills to move from unemployment into work."

Steve Pallas, training and development manager added: "We were delighted to sponsor this Award Ceremony as a way of acknowledging all of the hard work and effort put in by the New Deal clients, not only those now employed by Nissan, but throughout Sunderland."