A FORMER Big Issue seller has been given the chance to build a new career with one of the area’s largest employers after being helped by a county recruitment firm.

Iosif-Lulian Keller, who sold the magazine for 18 months in Redditch town centre, has secured a job with point-of-sale producer SP Group thanks to jobs experts eResponse Recruitment. The 28-year-old Romanian is now working in the distribution department at SP Group’s base in Redditch's Ravensbank Business Park helping to package and distribute point of sale displays for some of the high street’s biggest retailers.

Inna Shipley, eResponse’s branch manager in the town, said: “Iosif had been selling the Big Issue near our offices for the past year or so and during lunch hour we all gradually got to know him better and built great relationships with him. Some of our team eventually found out more about his career aspirations and how he was keen to further himself in a career here in the UK.

“Iosif jumped at the chance of some free career advice and the opportunity to be matched with a potential employer. He is a fantastic person so we were delighted to be able to help him into a role with SP Group, one of the area’s most respected employers. The job has helped him turn a corner in his life and we were really touched when he came to see us recently and brought us some chocolates to celebrate his birthday.”