The start of something new - Caitlin’s story

Caitlin joined the Restart Scheme with a clear ambition to secure employment within the hospitality sector, while also building on her existing foundation in early years childcare. From the outset, Caitlin demonstrated strong motivation and a commitment to developing her skills, embracing every opportunity to enhance her employability and move closer to achieving her career goals.

Supporting young people with limited experience requires a tailored and empathetic approach. By recognising transferable skills from life experiences such as caring or volunteering, advisers can build confidence and help individuals see their own value.

At her initial appointment, Caitlin met with her Employment Adviser, Daniel, who worked with her to identify her career goals, alongside her existing skills and experience, to develop a clear action plan towards sustainable employment. At 19 years old, Caitlin explained that her experience had primarily been in a caring capacity. Having been a full-time carer for her mum, she now had additional support in place enabling her to take the next steps towards starting her career.

Daniel was on hand to support her on this journey and enrolled her onto several in-house courses that brought her together in a group setting, working with other like-minded people on similar journeys. Our in-house courses helped Caitlin to improve her skills on effective job searching, CV writing, employer engagement and interview skills.

During her time on the Restart Scheme, Caitlin attended multiple jobs clubs and three sector taster days. Daniel said: “Due to Caitlin studying childcare, I funded a DBS check that will support her with accessing roles working with children and within school environments.

“Whilst attending a job club session, Caitlin identified a catering role of interest and we worked closely together to strengthen her application, using her newly developed CV. I was able to fund an external course in both COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and a Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety Certificate, which she successfully achieved and added to her CV.

“Caitlin was invited to interview for the job, and so Daniel provided vouchers for her to purchase new smart clothes and arranged mock interviews to build her confidence and performance.”

Providing participants with appropriate clothing for work or interviews does more than improve their appearance - it helps build confidence and a sense of belonging. Feeling prepared and presentable can positively impact mindset and performance, while also easing financial pressures as individuals transition into employment, allowing them to focus fully on succeeding in the workplace.

“Caitlin attended her interview the following day and as a result of her preparation and hard work, was successfully offered the role. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to Caitlin’s dedication and the impact of targeted support. We wish her every success in her new role", said Daniel.