Starting my journey – Envers’s story

When Envers was referred to the Restart Scheme, he had little work experience and was unsure of the type of work he wanted to pursue. Envers had previously worked on a market stall with his father, which gave him the confidence to work in a retail setting and speak to customers face to face.

During his initial appointment, he met with Employment Adviser, Vicky, who got to know a bit about Envers, and the transferrable skills that he could bring to the workplace. Together they discussed career opportunities, and what various job sectors consisted of with entry level roles.

From these meetings with Vicky, Envers was able to determine the route he wanted to take in the retail sector. Envers shared: “Whilst unemployed and living with my mother, I was conscious of the financial strain it was putting her under. I had been applying for jobs but with no success, and felt I was never going to get where I wanted to be.

“Since joining the Restart Scheme, I worked with Vicky on an action plan, which helped me to improve my CV, employability skills and knowledge. I’ve had support and advice throughout, and all my travel costs were covered, giving me the freedom to attend courses and attend interviews without the worry of costs.”

The Restart Scheme offers many in-house courses that enable participants to improve on existing skills as well as learning new skills too. Participants can benefit from CV workshops, interview techniques, and sector taster days, all of which can be delivered in group sessions or one-to-one.

“By identifying barriers and assessing my strengths and weaknesses, I’ve overcome obstacles and gained confidence in the process. I even improved my social skills through interaction with Vicky, the trainers and my new employer.”

It wasn’t long before Envers was invited to interview with a well-known supermarket chain, where he was offered the job shortly after.

“I am now happily employed and able to support my family financially. I have enjoyed learning new skills and developing in my role, and now looking to furthering my qualifications and experience, to add to my CV and improve my prospects.”