From setback to success – John’s story

When John began his journey with the Restart Scheme, he shared that a setback in his most recent retail job had significantly impacted his confidence. He had also developed anxiety and was finding it difficult to stay motivated when completing job searches on his own.

John began working with Employment Adviser Lara, who took the time to understand his goals and explore the support available through in-house training. Motivated to improve his prospects, John eagerly enrolled in several of these courses during his time on the Restart Scheme. The training played a key role in helping him build both his skills and confidence, preparing him for a successful return to work.

Like John, many participants benefit from the support available from our Wellbeing Team, who are there to provide guidance, encouragement, and practical strategies to help individuals manage anxiety, build resilience, and stay motivated throughout their journey back into employment.

John completed a range of courses that focused on improving his self-belief, transferrable skills, and interview techniques. Not only did John thoroughly enjoy these sessions, but his confidence also began to grow.

Our teams offer a Better Off Calculation, which gives participants a clear insight into how much they could earn working full-time or part-time. This helps them make informed decisions about employment opportunities and understand the financial benefits of returning to work.

Lara continued to work closely together with John through weekly appointments and job clubs. She said: “John was in the office at least twice a week creating tailored CVs, cover letters, and supported job searches. We arranged mock interview, which provided John with valuable feedback, and practice on his technique.”

Restart Scheme Recruitment Manager Jenny identified a potential opportunity for John through the candidate pools, for a role at a local holiday park that aligned well with his skills and growing confidence. With support from Lara, John was prepared with new smart clothing for the interview and attended full of confidence.

He got the job and was even identified as a strong candidate for a future supervisory role.

John shared: “I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to pop in to share the good news with the team. The Restart Scheme has been a real confidence boost for me, and the support of the whole team has meant a lot.”