CONSTRUCTION group Esh opened its doors to some of the region's biggest firms yesterday to showcase its approach to recruitment.
The group has taken on 20 school leavers from deprived areas as apprentices in an award-winning annual scheme.
The Durham-based company recently became the National Example of Excellence for its "Fit for Employment" programme in the Business in the Community (BITC) awards.
Yesterday's event, the first of its kind in the region, was organised by BITC and sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It allowed other companies to understand how they can contribute to economic and social regeneration.
Esh's scheme sees the company working with schools to give work experience to young people from deprived communities. Students who took part and got the required GCSE grades found out last week if they had secured one of the 20 permanent jobs available.
Four of those students told business leaders yesterday how the scheme helped them.
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