Since 1986, Employment Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) delivered innovative and high quality services, playing a vital role in finding work for people who were unemployed. They provided alternative volunteering and training opportunities to some of the Borough's most vulnerable clients, helping them to benefit from increased independence through modernised day service opportunities.
From 2002 the remit had extended to providing services outside of Stockport, funded by Manchester City Council and Jobcentre Plus. In December 2004 a decision was taken by Stockport Council to TUPE transfer Employment Services and on July 1st 2005 Pure Innovations was reborn as an independent not-for-profit company.
All existing services transferred under contract. This included care services and the volunteering projects for people with learning disability and physical and sensory disability, Work Link and Embracing Diversity, the Council's supported employment services.
In addition the company retained the Greater Manchester WORKSTEP contract with Jobcentre Plus and the employment service for people who have a learning disability on behalf of Manchester City Council Social Services.
The Council signed an agreement with Pure to run the services for 5 years with an option to extend to 10 years. In addition Stockport Council have agreed to act as guarantor for the company in relation to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund all of which emphasises the goodwill and high esteem placed on the enterprise by Stockport Councillors.
The services currently offered are highly valued by the Council who supported this transfer as the most obvious means to expand and develop the services rather than hold them back and see them gradually wither on the vine. As Councils change to have a greater commissioning role and less actual service delivery we will concentrate on our strengths as an excellent service deliverer and help Stockport and other Councils in their drive to become top performing Councils.
