Case Study

I got the job I love on St Valentine’s Day

14 Feb 2025

Made redundant after 19 years in a job he loved, single parent Andrew was anxious to get back to work as quickly as possible.

He was referred to Ingeus on its North West Work and Health Programme Pioneer service and in just over two months he secured a new role – starting on St Valentine’s Day.

This February 14th marks one year as a store cleaner and he’s loving the fact the job is not just one he enjoys but also gives him self-respect and makes him a good role model for his young son.

The Pioneer scheme exists to fast-track back into work people with additional barriers to employment, such as 45-year-old Andrew who left school unable to read or write. It then ensures they receive training and support to help them thrive in their new roles.

Ingeus Employment Specialist Sameenah, based in Lancaster, took responsibility for getting Andrew a new job. She ensured any communication with him took into account his reading and writing difficulties, with extra time allowed for face-to-face meetings and all written material, such as job vacancies, read to him.

She helped him compile a CV and says: “I continuously encouraged him, celebrating successes like gaining interviews and contacting employers.

“He was motivated to get back into work to support his son and was enthusiastic and passionate about his cleaning skills. He wanted to better himself while finding a job that allowed him to pick up his son from school.”

A long-standing relationship between the Ingeus Employer Services Team and facilities management company OCS enabled Andrew to secure an interview with Area Manager Warren, who says: “I was impressed with how eager he was to get back into work.

“We have a good success rate for Ingeus participants in terms of staying in their jobs and I was happy to take extra time with Andrew to go through paperwork and health and safety training.

“I offered him a job as a store cleaner for a major retailer and, when he later needed to fit his hours around his son’s schooling, I negotiated a later start time. He took to the job quickly and has not needed any additional training apart from regular refreshers on company policies.”

Andrew says: “I like cleaning and really enjoy this job. I get on well with the rest of the staff there and have even received customer compliments about my friendliness and the cleanliness of the store and toilets.

“Having a job is important because people respect you more and it gives you a sense of dignity. I also think it’s good for my son to see me working so he grows up knowing that work is the right thing to do.

“I would 100 per cent recommend this programme to anybody with any sort of disability or, like me, who can’t read or write. It shows that if you want to work there are people who can help you.

“Sameenah has been brilliant. She has been so supportive; I could not have wished for a better person to help me. She has continued to offer support since I started the job.”

Sameenah adds: “‘It’s been nice seeing Andrew grow in confidence. He has always been motivated to get back into work, and with the right support and guidance, it was rewarding to see him land a role that fits around his lifestyle and one that he really enjoys.”