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Organisations hoping to run the specialist support part of the government's campaign to help drug misusers back into employment are due to find out this month whether their bids have been successful.

The government began tendering for organisations to run the specialist support part of the progress2work initiative in August. The scheme is the responsibility of the Employment Service. Interested organisations such as drugs misuse agencies and training groups were invited to bid.

Thousands of drug misusers could be helped into work by the scheme, which is to start in March 2002. Thirty areas have been selected for the initial stage of the project in March, 60 for 2003, and the rest of England, Wales and Scotland the year after. Progress2work will be funded to the tune of £40m over the three years.

During the next two years drug co-ordinators will be placed in every Employment Service unit of delivery. Their role will be to help drug users coming out of treatment to get access to services to help them on the road to employment. They will also ensure that any job seekers with drug problems are referred for appropriate treatment.

The drug co-ordinators will set up action plans with the drug action teams to address any gaps in provision and train front-line staff in how to recognise drug misuse.

Speaking at the DrugScope conference last week, Mike Stewart, director of the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, said that while participation in the scheme was voluntary and targeted at individuals with a history of drug abuse, he expected 20 per cent to find jobs.

"If it is seen as successful then it can be extended to other hard-to-help groups," said Stewart.

Pilot projects were set up last spring to test different models of delivery in Glasgow, Liverpool, Plymouth, Stevenage and two in London, and participants have been tracked quarterly. Findings show that many drug misusers drop out during the early stages but often return to the projects.

Mike McCarron, co-ordinator of greater Glasgow drug action team, said the pilot in Glasgow had been a success. More than 100 former drug misusers have moved into jobs over the last year.

"What we're aiming at during the next year is to see 1,000 ex-drug users actively taking up opportunities in progress2work," said McCarron. "It is the most important policy initiative available, which we must make work."