Breaking new ground - Luke’s story

When Luke joined the Restart Scheme, he faced low motivation and was struggling to secure work in his chosen field of construction. Despite a clear interest in the industry, repeated setbacks - particularly through online job applications had left him feeling discouraged.

The Restart Scheme supports participants at every stage of their career journey, providing tailored advice and guidance to help them explore opportunities, identify their strengths, and take confident next steps into employment, training, or apprenticeships.

Luke met with his Employment Adviser, Leighanne who worked closely with him to create a structured action plan whilst providing tailored guidance that would support him on his way back into work. Leighanne shared: “We reviewed his job search approach and identified ways to broaden his opportunities. Luke attended several of our in-house workshops, including Interview Skills, Self-Confidence and Effective Job Search, which all had a positive impact on his confidence and helped to build on his employability skills. Leighanne explained:

“Together we worked on applications for various construction agencies, whilst exploring other job sectors with more permanent roles. Luke attended a local construction and warehouse jobs fair, where he planned to engage directly with employers and gather valuable contacts. Taking further initiative, he visited local construction sites to enquire about potential opportunities, helping him to build confidence in approaching employers face-to-face.

“During one of our Jobs Club sessions, Luke found an operative role at a recycling plant, and so we created a cover letter and tailored his CV to suit the application.”

The Restart Scheme helps participants prepare for interviews through personalised coaching, mock interview practice, and expert guidance. This support builds confidence, improves interview techniques, and helps individuals present themselves effectively to potential employers.

Just a couple of days later, Luke was invited to interview where he was then offered the job! The interviewer at his new role told us: “We’re really excited about having Luke on board as he is such a nice, polite lad, and this is a great opportunity for him.”

This opportunity represents an important milestone in Luke’s journey. While it may not be directly within construction, it is providing him with valuable work experience, routine, and a chance to rebuild his confidence in a working environment.