Real life examples

Here are just a few examples of how we’ve helped our clients achieve more.

From jobseeker to team leader
Hayley was sent to do her Basic Skills course with Skills Training twice. She had little experience, behavioural problems and writing difficulties. Initially, she was reluctant to attend classes and was disruptive towards other customers. Hayley lost her first job as a warehouse person within a week because of her casual attitude towards work, and returned to Skills Training shortly afterwards. After considerable one-to-one counselling from a dedicated Tutor to discuss her strengths and ambitions, Hayley started attending classes again, and her attitude, behaviour, and writing skills began to dramatically improve.

With the support and motivation of the Skills Training team, interviews with Iceland and Morrisons followed, resulting in two job offers. Hayley now works at Iceland and has made a very positive impression with her managers, leading to her recent promotion to Team Leader.

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“My name is Ikram. Before I came to Skills Training, with no job and poor English, my life wasn’t that easy. Luckily I was sent here to Skills Training to improve my English and get help with my job search. At the centre, I used all the facilities that are available, and my Tutor helped me believe that everything is possible if you try hard. I was pushing hard to be what I wanted to be and to fulfill my dreams, as I hope one day I will be an aid worker. My Tutor and all the Skills Training team were great, and I would like to thank them for helping me all the way to improve my English, with my job search, and for getting work placements with Age Concern and Tesco.”

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Opening doors
Ian first came to Skills Training with minimal English and a very negative attitude. Over time, however, with one-to-one assistance from his Tutor and Advisor, Ian realised that we were trying to help him. With scheduled ESOL classes, his attitude changed significantly and he began attending classes on time and completing his homework. After successfully securing a work placement, the reviews and positive feedback he received from his employers, and a dramatic improvement in his English mean he will leave here knowing he’s made the best of his opportunity, while his qualification and new work skills will increase the chances of future employment.

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way
Mrs Ibrahim was a 59 year old grandmother when she started attending the New Deal /ESOL programme in mid 2008. Despite her lack of good spoken English, and having only entry one ESOL, she was enthusiastic about securing employment. Her work experience was very limited, but she was interested in finding a position as a childcare assistant or cleaner, having previously worked in these positions with a voluntary body. In addition, her experience of family home management and family care, and her role as community mediator in welfare and counselling work, formed the basis of her CV development.

Having only arrived from East Africa in the last few years, Mrs Ibrahim had not undertaken any paid work in the UK, so it was essential to research opportunities for her within the community, and to network with charity and religious organisations where she would be able to put her skills to good use. After a successful trial placement with a charity community organisation, now 60, she is currently employed as the Community Caretaker at IMKAK Centre Vauxhall.

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Supporting ambitions
Virgo joined our Centre Programme in January 2009, having previously attended the IAP 13 week programme - which he found useful as he was able to create a CV and improve his interview technique. Virgo’s long-term job ambition was to work within the care industry, but he understood he would need to further his training and qualifications in order to achieve this. With his Advisor, they decided on securing short-term work in another area of employment offering a good salary, and also the flexibility he needed to complete his studies. Virgo successfully started work with OCS in March 2009.

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A rising star
Erkan started with Skills Training on the FTET Retail and Customer Service option. He had been out of work for over a year and with an impressive employment history, was looking for a job within retail. Erkan was incredibly shy and became very nervous at interviews, which meant he was unsuccessful in securing the employment.

With help from a motivational trainer, we focussed on preparing him for interviews, practiced mock interviews and trained him in interview technique. During the coming weeks, Erkan went for many interviews and started to become much more confident. The feedback we received from unsuccessful interviews was used to address his weaknesses, and on his final week of training with us, Erkan was offered a full time position as a Customer Service Assistant with Comet.

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Overcoming barriers
Shukri started the ESOL course in January 2008.  She had been unemployed for over 18 months with little work experience. Her CV needed updating and she was unsure how to look for jobs. She was also hoping to improve her English and gain a qualification. After a few weeks of training, Shukri was registered for ESOL Entry 2 Qualification and passed her Reading and Writing exam during her training. With the guidance of her Tutor, she continued to search for jobs until we told her about an opening at the Science Museum in Kensington.

At a screening for the position, Shukri’s positive attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to work were appreciated. A week later, in a formal interview with the employer, the same qualities won her the appointment, staring the next day.

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Qualities shine through
After eighteen months of employment, Karen was made redundant from her position as an Assistant Manager in a linen and fabric shop. Despite applying for numerous vacancies, Karen was unable to find a new position and she began to feel disheartened and de-motivated.

Karen joined an FTET programme with Skills Training and after six weeks was approached about a Store Manager vacancy in the new Gadget Shop in Harrow. During a one-to-one session, it became clear that Karen’s previous experience and bubbly personality were well suited to the position. After submitting an application form Karen had a formal interview, and a few days later was offered the position.

Some months later, Karen contacted Skills Training regarding a new vacancy in her branch for a Sales Assistant, and we were able to refer another customer from our centre who was subsequently awarded the position.

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The ingredients for success
Yvonne had started the GTW course with Skills Training after being unemployed for a number of years. The gap in her employment record meant it was very difficult to get back in to the workplace, and she had lost self-esteem and confidence, We gave her one-to-one support to overcome these barriers, worked on her letter writing skills, helped update her CV, and advised on job application procedures.

Yvonne’s focus was to restart her employment in the catering industry, so we gave her the help she needed to pass the Food Hygiene course, which is the basic requirement for this industry. She was then able to apply for the opportunities that interested her and is now successfully working in a catering position for the NHS.

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Confidence is key
Angela was out of work for more than 5 years before joining Skills Training UK under IAP Routeways provision. She had worked as a receptionist before taking a career break to bring up her child. Her initial assessment showed that she lacked self-confidence and interview techniques. After her first one-to-one session with her Skills Training customer advisor, Angela’s confidence grew and she was encouraged to make a list of organisations she wanted to work with.

During her training, Angela attended CV workshops and motivational workshops to improve her confidence. She applied to all the companies on her list, including the NHS, and within two weeks she received three interviews from her listed organisations. With help in interview techniques from her Customer Advisor, Angela attended the interviews feeling relaxed and confident and within days she was offered a position as a receptionist with the NHS.

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Gardener blooms
John was unemployed for almost 2 years before joining the New Deal programme with Groundwork, a Skills Training subcontractor. A one-to-one session highlighted that a lack of gardening skills and low self-confidence were the main barriers for John to overcome. During his training, John attended motivational workshops to improve his self-confidence and was scheduled for horticultural training to improve his gardening skills.  

After a few weeks of training, John managed to secure a work placement with the horticultural contractor at Hammersmith Park. His efforts with the redevelopment of the Japanese Garden project at Hammersmith impressed his supervisor, who later offered him a permanent contract after he finished the placement.

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M&S signs Jon
Jon was unemployed for 8 years before joining the IAP provision. At first, he was disruptive and a poor influence on those around him. During his initial assessment, we identified that long-term unemployment had undermined his motivation and his confidence. Jon’s Skills Training Customer Advisor conducted frequent one-to-one sessions with him to change his attitude and build his confidence, as well as arranging workshops to help with motivation, CV writing, job searching and confidence building to help him over come his barriers.

After 6 weeks, Jon was more positive and keen to return to employment in the retail sector. With the help of our Account Management team, Jon was able to secure a four week work placement at Peacocks. Soon afterwards, he managed to secure a permanent position with Marks & Spencer as a retail assistant.

Jon comments, “I wasn’t particularly keen on going on training courses, but this reawakened my enthusiasm. The trainers and my advisor were very good and their methods of teaching helped you absorb everything. Courses that could have been very boring were made very interesting. I would highly recommend the courses and workshops to my fellow jobseekers, and hope like me, Skills Training can help others find the dream job they want.”

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