Celebrating creativity

RELEASING POTENTIAL PERS development officers Iram Hussain, Debra Johnson and Dave Wears with Coun Masood Ahmed.

Dewsbury Town Hall was filled with around 30 stalls selling food, jewellery, stationery, toys and more when it played host to the Pay and Employment Rights Service (PERS) event.

Funded by the Big Lottery scheme, PERS was set up in 2009 to help people in Kirklees working from home or who want to set up their own home business.

PERS Home Working Service project co-ordinator Abad Ghani said: “We work with home workers to help them realise their potential to make good businesses from their homes. It is a massive satisfaction for me to see all the hard work of my team and the entrepreneurs come together at an event like this.”

Younger visitors enjoyed face painting and mehndi in the main hall, while circus skills sessions were held outside.

Coun Masood Ahmed (Lab, Dews South) was guest of honour.

He said: “The PERS Home Working Service has helped a lot of people throughout Kirklees to become economically active and is a great resource for us to have here.

“It is a great pleasure being here and seeing the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.”

The PERS team gives advice on home working, training and spotting scams; free health and safety risk assessments and free equipment, subject to funding. Contact 01924 428032 for more information.