Disabled people are to get a New Deal with British Gas.

Fifty customer service jobs are being created at five of the company's offices in Greater Manchester as part of the Government's New Deal initiative. Five of them will be at the British Gas Energy Centres national call centre on the Breightmet Industrial Estate in Bolton.

The programme has been developed in partnership with the Employment Service, Carers' National Association, Employers' Forum for Disability and the RNIB.

It will focus on disadvantaged groups with special needs, such as unemployed disabled people and long-term carers returning to work.

Project Manager Phil Jennings said: "These will be real jobs with genuine prospects and all 50 people will receive the same high-quality training as the rest of our employees, with the possibility of gaining NVQs."

He went on: "The difference between this project and our normal recruitment is that applicants will receive training in preparation for interview and in readiness for their entry or return to a business environment.

"They will also have access to extra support, should they need it, once they have started work."

The Employment Service is actively promoting the project to disability groups and is seeking suitable applicants for the jobs on offer.

Interview skills training will be offered to 75 people before 12-month contracts - which will hopefully lead to permanent jobs - are offered to 50 successful interviewees.

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