But he only had to look across the road to land a new job.

The 42-year-old was left with a severely weakened spine after the crash, which meant he had to give up working on a farm.

But after a lengthy recuperation Gordon discovered Remploy, the UK's leading provider of specialist employment services for people with disabilities and health conditions.

He contacted Remploy's specialist recruitment branch in South Parade, Leeds city centre, and was found a job as a kitchen porter just across the road at Japanese noodle bar Tampopo.

Gordon is already enjoying the taste of success – he's just earned promotion and is embarking on a two-year training programme to become a fully-fledged chef.

He said: "The first thing Remploy did was help me develop my skills so that I would be confident and ready for job interviews.

"With their guidance I wrote my CV and started applying for jobs – and this is when I saw a vacancy for a kitchen porter at Tampopo restaurant.

"Tampopo is just across the road from Remploy's branch on South Parade, which was very handy."

Gordon's bosses are now giving him the chance to prove himself and he hopes his intensive training will lead eventually to a chef's position.
He said: "From being without a job, I'm now working at least 40 hours each week in a high-pressure kitchen – and loving it.

"I'm really enjoying being a wage earner, which is just as well as I am now saving up for my daughter's wedding."
Remploy's recruitment branch in Leeds is playing a key part in helping the company to achieve its target of trebling the number of jobs it finds for disabled people by 2012.

The branch provides recruitment and development services for disabled jobseekers seeking to return to work or enter the labour market for the first time.

These include basic employment skills and vocational training, assistance with job searching, help with completing application forms and arranging job tasters and interviews.

Remploy's advisers work closely with Leeds's Jobcentre Plus offices and employers throughout the city to ensure that people with disabilities and health conditions are considered equally when vacancies arise.