Stepping stone - James’s story

James joined the Restart Scheme determined to rebuild his career after leaving the IT sector. However, balancing childcare responsibilities for his young son and keeping his technical skills up to date presented significant challenges. After time away from the industry, James knew he needed support to refresh his knowledge and increase his confidence in a competitive job market.

Through a range of free, in-house training courses, the Restart Scheme helps participants build confidence, develop new skills and overcome barriers to work. Tailored to individual needs, our courses provide practical support that helps people progress towards sustainable employment.

Working closely with his Employment Adviser, Kevin, James explored the barriers standing in the way of his career goals and developed a clear action plan to help him move forward. Together, they created a professional CV that showcased his previous experience and highlighted the transferable skills he had gained throughout his career.

To further strengthen his job search, James completed several of our in-house courses which helped him to develop skills in interview techniques and job applications whilst improving his confidence along the way. Recognising James’ commitment to returning to IT in the future, Kevin arranged an external four-course training package, enabling him to update his technical knowledge and continue developing industry-relevant skills on a remote basis.

The combination of practical support, training and personalised guidance helped James take meaningful steps towards employment. His hard work paid off when he successfully secured a logistics role working afternoon and evening shifts. The position not only provides financial stability but flexibility with shift work, so he could continue to spend valuable time with his son each morning, creating a balance between work and family life.

The Restart Scheme provides practical financial support to help participants make the transition from benefits into paid employment. From travel costs and work-related expenses to guidance on managing the move into work, we help remove financial barriers so participants can start their new role with confidence.

Kevin told us: “James now has the flexibility to continue studying and developing his IT skills while gaining valuable work experience. With a stable job in place and a clear pathway back into his chosen sector, he remains focused on achieving his long-term ambition of returning to a career in IT."

As a result of his progress made with the Restart Scheme, James has built a strong foundation for the future.