AN employment scheme is spring-boarding jobseekers into work.

The Leapfrog Programme prepares potential workers for roles in a variety of sectors, from catering and hospitality, to waste management and manufacturing.

Many of the participants have been unemployed for several months or even years but are re-familiarised with working life during the two week programme to help with gaining successful employment.

The programme, which is free to employers looking to recruit, has been developed by training organisation Amacus and has already helped 227 people into permanent work.

Christine Hall, managing director of Amacus, said: "The Leapfrog programme is not just about training for training's sake, it's about real opportunities, working with both employers to identify job opportunities and Job Centre Plus to identify the right candidates to take advantage of preparation training with the possibility of a real job at the end of it.

"It gives job seekers a chance to go back into a working environment via work experience so that they get a full insight to decide if it's for them or not."

Candidates are referred to the Leapfrog programme via JobCentre Plus and undertake a range of sector specific training and qualifications such as manual handling, health and safety and food hygiene before spending a day at their prospective workplace to get a hands-on feel for the job.

Several North East employers have taken advantage of the scheme including Hartlepool-based waste management company J & B Recycling which recruited 13 new staff and The Croxdale Inn, in County Durham, where eight people were offered positions at the hotel.