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An unemployed man has secured work thanks to a partnership between a logistics training company and a haulier. Dave Smith, from Newcastle, signed up for the government's New Deal scheme and was sent on a 13-week driver training course with Tyne and Wear-based Van Hee Training. As part of the programme, he also took part in a voluntary placement at Lescost Transport, based in Gateshead, to gain some 7.5-tonne experience. Smith, who had previously worked as a multi-drop van driver, has now secured  a full-time job with the haulage company.

He says: "It's great that Van Hee arranged this opportunity for me to get back into work. Lescost have also been very helpful, and now that I have my Category C licence, I am hoping that the company will help me to get my Category C+E licence for driving artics." Michelle Hunter, Lescost Transport director, adds: "Dave is very dedicated and our customers like him. "He not only does the multi-drop trips in the North East, but can handle long-distance deliveries to meet customer deadlines."