STAFF from a Redditch based employment specialist are celebrating after winning a prestigious award.

Pertemps People Development Group won the Youth Employment Award at the ERSA Employability Awards, which aims to highlight the hard work and dedication of individuals and organisations that support local jobseekers in finding employment.

More than 200 guests including employment minister Esther McVey attended a recent awards evening, held in London.

Pertemps chief executive Steve King said winning the award was recognition of the company’s proactive approach to enabling access to the workplace for younger job seekers.

“Our teams are dedicated to working with young people, preparing them for training and employment or helping them continue with their education,” he said.

“Young people are our future and as a society we have a responsibility to ensure they are equipped with the skills needed in today’s commercial and industrial workplaces.”

Kirsty McHugh, ERSA chief executive, said: “With 180 strong entries to the awards this year, our judges faced the huge challenge of selecting just 11 winners from such a high calibre of nominees.

"All of the winners reflect the exceptional inspiration required to help people find and secure work.”