Starting strong - Harry’s story

Harry joined the Restart Scheme determined to find work, but like many participants, he initially needed support to identify the right opportunities and rebuild his confidence in the recruitment process. At 19, with limited experience, he faced barriers to employment but was motivated to overcome them.

The Restart Scheme supports individuals at all stages of their employment journey, providing tailored guidance to build skills, confidence, and job readiness. Whether participants have limited experience or are looking to re-enter the workforce, the programme offers personalised support to help them progress into sustainable employment.

Through tailored one-to-one support, Harry’s Employment Adviser, Daniel, worked closely with him to explore roles that aligned with his skills and interests. During these discussions, an opportunity was identified with one of our partner employers to work as a Cleaner at a local cinema - a role that matched Harry’s preferences and availability.

To ensure Harry was fully prepared, additional support was provided to strengthen his interview skills. Daniel developed a bespoke interview preparation guide tailored to the role and enrolled him onto one of our in-house interview skills courses. Through this, Harry built his confidence, enhanced his communication techniques, and gained a clear understanding of how to present himself effectively to employers.

Our in-house courses provide practical, tailored training to help participants build confidence, develop key employability skills, and feel fully prepared for the workplace. Through guided support, participants can acquire the tools needed to succeed in interviews and beyond.

Daniel provided vouchers to help Harry purchase smart interview clothing. With this support and encouragement - boosting both his confidence and approach, Harry attended his interview feeling well-prepared and successfully secured the role.

Harry has now started work at his local cinema as a Cleaner. This outcome demonstrates the impact of combining personalised job matching with targeted skills development. By identifying the right opportunity and equipping Harry with the confidence to succeed at interview, this enabled him to take a positive and sustainable step into employment.

We wish Harry all the best in his new job and for the future.