Case Study

Help is at hand for James

10 Oct 2021

Finding himself bankrupt, homeless and unemployed in December 2020 forced Carlisle businessman James to face a situation he never thought he’d be in – a situation he was struggling to accept he needed help to overcome. After a series of rejections for job applications, however, he reluctantly agreed to try the WHP JETS programme.
 
Before the pandemic hit, James, 41, owned and ran a successful sourcing and procurement business with a multi-million-pound turnover. But following COVID’s arrival, his client ceased work and eventually so too did James. After speaking to the Universal Credit team, James was referred to Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS), a separate strand of the Work and Health Programme (WHP), delivered in North West England by Ingeus. It is commissioned and financed by the Department for Work and Pensions and deemed to be a European Social Fund match funded programme.
 
James, who was assigned to Ingeus work coach Bev Nickson, says “I was reluctant to accept any help as pride was the only commodity I had left at the time, and needing help to find employment was difficult for me to swallow. But I felt instantly reassured as soon as I spoke to Bev.”
 
Although James knew his CV needed an overhaul, he was unsure of the best way to tackle it. Armed with Bev’s knowledge and expertise, they worked together to update it and ensure it stood out to potential employers. Just 24 hours after uploading his re-designed CV to a recruitment site, James was invited to an interview.
 
“My CV looked and sounded so much better than I ever thought it could,” recalls James. “Bev’s positive and professional attitude was amazing. She immediately asked if I needed help with the interview too and I took all her tips and pointers on board.”
 
James was asked back for a second interview and, using Bev’s feedback on the presentation he needed to make, he secured the position as a sales manager.
 
He says, “Getting the job has given me the opportunity to rebuild my life – it’s given me the chance to get a house for me and my young son.
 
“Bev was a shining star when darkness was overwhelming my life. I would never have achieved what I have without her professionalism, positivity, upbeat attitude and no-surrender approach.”