Meet Peter, after retiring and totally redecorating his home during lockdown, he decided he wasn’t ready to hang up his tool belt just yet. “I needed to get out there and do something” he thought. After visiting his local Job Centre, Peter’s work coach referred him to the Work and Health Programme.
From the fist moment of contact with his dedicated Support Manager Joanne, Peter knew he was in great company. “I felt understood and not judged.” Within a matter of days of being on the programme, Peter attended the Birmingham Work and Health Hub jobs fair in September 2021. He met with Paige who arranged an interview with Elevate FM, a facilities management company that were looking to recruit a ‘Handyperson’.
Peter said: “I had a great time at the Jobs Fair. I met with lots of different employers but there was one employer attending that I really wanted to impress. The team at Shaw Trust really helped me to prepare for the event and I had my CV, interview questions and answers ready to go. I met with Elevate FM to find out more about the role and felt it was a perfect fit due to my previous skills and experience. The interview was more like a relaxed conversation but that didn’t stop me from demonstrating why I was the right candidate for the role. As I made my way home later that day my phone rang, I couldn’t believe it. Elevate FM were on the phone – offering me the job! I was over the moon and said, yes straight away.”
“I still pinch myself now – is this real?”
On Friday 8 April, Peter paid a visit to the Norwich Work and Health Hub where he was met by Tracey, the Community Hub Host. “I had arranged for a few maintenance jobs to be carried out around the hub. Peter arrived with a huge smile on his face and said ‘I love Shaw Trust’. This was just after I offered Peter a tea or coffee so thought he must know our coffee is pretty good! But no, Peter went on to tell me all about his time on the Work and Health Programme, how Shaw Trust helped him to secure the job of his dreams and how to this day he is still in touch with his Support Manager, Joanne.” Tracey said.
We asked Peter ‘What advice would you give to someone starting on a Shaw Trust programme?’
“Go for it, the people are so nice and understanding. Regardless of your circumstances or background the team really want to help, support and guide you onto the career path you want to choose. I really appreciated the regular contact which helped keep me on track to finding the job of my dreams. Together my Support Manager and I made an action plan, this really helped to keep me focused on my end goal.”
Peter has now been employed since October 2021 and is in his element! “The job satisfaction is second to none, the directors are so supportive and approachable, I am very lucky to be a part of such a great team.
Congratulations Peter!