People Involved: Jeff Mitchell

Partners: Clean Slate Training

URLs related to this project: www.cleanslateltd.co.uk/

Where is the need for this project?

Vulnerable people, such as those with mental health problems, learning disabilities or experience of drug or alcohol misuse can find themselves excluded from the labour market.

Where do you hope this project can go?

CSTE was created to provide work opportunities for vulnerable people. CSTE runs its own enterprises and a temporary employment agency and helps those it supports to develop their own enterprises and build their confidence and CVs. Created by Jeff Mitchell, former managing director of The Big Issue, this unique approach provides real flexibility to both workers and customers. In the last year, Clean Slate has provided over 1,000 hours of employment for people previously seen as ‘unemployable’. As the recession focuses policy on demand-side responses to the challenge of unemployment, innovations such as Clean Slate Training may prove extremely significant.