Case Study

Delighted Dolly loves her new job

22 Nov 2021

Dolly Green lost her job of over 17 years due to the Covid pandemic but thanks to Ingeus, has now found a new role tackling the virus – where she even gets to meet VIPs, famous actors, and sports stars.

Originally from Malaysia, 59-year-old Dolly moved to England when she married in 1989 and lives in Oldham with her husband and daughter.

Over the years she has worked for a music company, an architectural firm and at a hotel in Manchester following a two-year catering course.

Her last and longest job was as manager of a community centre. But it was forced to close over lockdown and Dolly was made redundant.

“I was disappointed, but I hoped there would be something else to look forward to,” said Dolly. “After a while I was getting bored at home. I went to Jobcentre Plus and they referred me to JETS where I was helped by my Ingeus employment coaches Nicola Walsh and Amy Dean.”

In Greater Manchester, Ingeus delivers the Working Well (Work and Health Programme) Job Entry Targeted Support (WHP JETS) programme on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The scheme supports recently unemployed people who are keen to get back to work. 

Dolly completed two skills workshops and revamped her CV using the Ingeus iWorks platform.

“I was so grateful for Nicola and Amy’s kind and encouraging help and I was uplifted to know I wasn’t alone,” said Dolly. After just a month, and before she could take part in any more courses, Amy found her a new job for an international manpower company carrying out Covid tests at different locations.

“After a couple of training days, I started full time and felt like I had woken from a deep sleep,” remembered Dolly. “I also received a starter pack from JETS, and It was like Christmas had come early.”

Dolly now carries out PCR and lateral flow Covid tests on hundreds of people including VIPS, crew, and actors on television drama sets and on location. “All the crew are tested at 6am in the morning, then all the actors, it is a great change and I’m really enjoying it; I’m meeting different types of people,” said Dolly.

She even tested athletes taking part in the Manchester Marathon including Olympic stars who had been to Japan – in the very hotel where she once worked as a breakfast and pastry chef.
“It was like going home, it was really good. I said there’s no need to tell me the way, I know where I’m going, I used to work here,” laughed Dolly.

Since starting her new job, Dolly, who still enjoys baking in her spare time, has been awarded Employee of the Month and has already been promoted.