Upper Street supermarket Budgens has been awarded for creating jobs for out-of-work Islington people.

It won “small and medium enterprise employer” from the Employment Related Services Association. Store manager Paul Gardner recruited 13 people facing additional barriers to getting a job, such as ex-offenders or those with disabilities.

He was nominated by Islington Council and economic leader Cllr Asima Shaikh said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a glowing testament to Paul’s dedication to helping residents who are out of work find the right job.

“Rates of unemployment in Islington remain too high and too many residents do not get the support they deserve.

“Paul and his team are the perfect example of a dynamic business that gets involved and makes real change happen for the local community.”