Case Study

Sights set on a new future

3 Jun 2021

As a design manager, Kate from Greater Manchester was used to visualising future British fashion. When she lost her job, Kate decided to design a different career path with the support of the WHP JETS employability programme after she was referred by her local Jobcentre Plus.
 
“The retail sector has been very hard hit by the pandemic and will take time to recover,” explained Kate. “I felt that being made redundant was my opportunity to diversify into something new.”
 
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 and receives support from the European Social Fund. 
 
Kate was helped in her search for a new career by her Ingeus employment coach, Hayley Newby, who highlighted the skills Kate possessed which could be transferred to other sectors. Kate also used Ingeus iWorks, an online platform that provides guidance and assessments on CV writing, interview techniques and other job search skills.
 
“The subsequent feedback enabled me to revise my CV and I received advice on text to use with prospective employers to showcase my expertise,” added Kate. “Hayley was fantastic and helped me to see that as I had previously managed a team of people, I had lots of training and coaching experience.”
 
With a greater awareness of her transferrable skills, Kate applied for a recruitment position with the Department for Work and Pensions that would involve helping people get back into employment.
 
“I am looking forward to starting the training,” said Kate. “I know that being a Work Coach is going to be very rewarding and interesting as I help jobseekers to find new employment that is right for them.”