Clearly Drinks to help fund employment project

The drinks manufacturer will part-fund a new employment development co-ordinator role, based in Sunderland. The co-ordinator will work with partners, organisations and community groups in the North East to identify and access employment opportunities across the region.

Salvation army North-East England Divisional Commander Major David Burns said: “We’re grateful for the support of businesses such as Clearly Drinks who match our commitment to our community and our drive to help lift people out of unemployment and poverty.”​

Food donations​

Clearly Drinks has supplied food donations and resources to The Salvation Army’s Swan Lodge Lifehouse, a residential centre for homeless adults, which opened up the opportunity to support the new role.

Mick Howard, Cleary Drinks chief executive, added: “At Clearly Drinks we are committed to helping those who are either homeless or unemployed by providing training and employment opportunities at a local level by supporting the work of The Salvation Army’s programme.​

Employment opportunities ​

“We are more than just a drinks manufacturer - we strive to support people where needed and this includes providing employment opportunities to those who are most in need or vulnerable, which also helps to improve employment rates in Sunderland.”​

In 2017, Clearly Drinks expanded its production at its factory in Sunderland and created 12 new jobs, as part of growth plans to meet demand from UK and overseas customers.  

“The people of the North East have been a big part of our story for the past 135 years and we wouldn’t be where we were without them,”​ Howard continued. “That’s why we chose to work with The Salvation Army, who make a real difference to lives.”​

Meanwhile, Proposals to expand Greencore’s site in Kiveton, Rotherham could lead to the creation of 276 new full-time roles​​ across the factory.