Department for Work And Pensions: Secretary of State re-appoints Ian Russell as Remploy Non-Executive chair for a second term

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, has re-appointed Ian Russell as Non Executive Chair of Remploy. Remploy is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist employment services for disabled people and those experiencing complex barriers to work.

Remploy is one of the largest employers of disabled people in Great Britain including around 2,700 disabled employees at 54 factory locations and is the largest single provider of WORKSTEP1.

Mr Russell’s initial appointment as Non-Executive Chair of Remploy ended on the 7th January 2010.  He will remain in post for the period commencing on the 8th January 2010 and ending on the 7th January 2012.

Announcing the appointment, Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:

“I wish to thank Ian Russell for the work he has already done and I am delighted to confirm that he has been re-appointed for a second term. Ian remaining as chair will provide continuity to the Board of Directors at a time of increasing challenges for the company.

“Remploy is in the second year of their five year modernisation plan. The company aim to support 20,000 disabled people into work by 2012-13”.

Notes to editors

1. The WORKSTEP employment programme provides support to disabled people facing complex barriers to getting and keeping a job. It also offers practical assistance to employers.

2. Remploy Ltd is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. It receives a grant-in-aid each year in exchange for delivering a range of employment opportunities for around 12,500 disabled people under the Government’s WORKSTEP programme. Remploy delivers this support by operating as a commercial organisation with 54 business sites and also by providing support to disabled people working with other employers through its Employment Services business.

3. The company has a large presence in the school furniture business and supplies clothing for the armed forces. In addition they operate managed services on customer sites including CCTV or call centre operations.

4. In announcing the final modernisation plan of Remploy on 29 November 2007, the Secretary of State said there would be 17 factory closures and 11 mergers with other factories, down from 32 closures proposed in May 2007. The sales target for public procurement would increase to £461 million over five years, up from £298 million since the company's proposals in May last year. That is a huge and challenging 130 per cent increase over the current rate of sales of £200 million. There will be a total cost saving of £59 million from around 25 per cent, fewer managers, changes in working practices and reductions in non-wage costs.

5. The company propose to be placing 20,000 disabled people into work by year 5 of the modernisation plan.

6. The appointment of Remploy Non-Executive Directors is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The recruitment and selection process was in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.

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