A MAN who struggled for ten years to find work has finally nailed down a full time job.

Mike Caroll is now a health and safety officer for employment and training experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG). The 46-year-old, of Middlesbrough, had no qualifications and hadn't worked for more than a decade when he was referred to PPDG for help as part of the Employment Zone initiative.

Desperate to work, Mike felt his confidence slipping away as he became a carer for a sick relative and couldn't find a position to suit the flexibility he needed.

But after spending three years working part time at the PPDG as a handyman he has been appointed as one of the company's full-time health and safety officers.

He said: "I am still pinching myself, I never dreamt I would end up with a job like this - such jobs were always for other people and not me.

"When I first came to PPDG, I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights - frightened to speak but I've always been handy at fixing things and demonstrated this to my coach.

"I'd never had a proper job, using a computer or sending emails was completely alien to me but look at me now, I never thought it would be the start of anything so fantastic."

The organisation has helped more than 7,500 people formerly-unemployed into work since it was established in Teesside in 2003.

To learn more about the services contact the team on 01642-755500.