Case Study

When Sunita faced redundancy after a 30-year career in retail banking she could have been forgiven for searching for a similar role. Yet determined to embrace a new challenge, she decided to invest her talents in a new direction, banking on Ingeus instead for her big career switch. 

 

As the Restart Scheme launched in 2021, Sunita began her Ingeus career as a Business Manager based in Hounslow. In the space of just four years, she has quickly progressed to become a Head of Delivery for the Restart Scheme in Central and West London, managing a large part of the contract and overseeing centres in Barnet, Harrow, Brent, Haringey and Hammersmith. 

 

“The Restart Scheme supports jobseekers to find work, helping with all the practical and emotional obstacles people face,” explains Sunita. “It was a totally different sector for me to move to, I’d never worked helping people back to work before, but Ingeus recognised the transferrable management skills I could bring to support a large contract and team.  

 

“I began in a small Restart Scheme centre, learning the role, then quickly moved to larger ones. It was great to get stuck into something new, to keep my mind moving forward. My manager has supported me all the way with training and coaching. I tend to get bored quite quickly and like to be challenged, which I get in this role – banking was very corporate, Ingeus is still very professional but so different!” 

 

Remembering her own experience of starting afresh, Sunita now runs new starter forums to capture feedback and suggestions from Ingeus’ new recruits: 

“We look for opportunities to improve and add to the onboarding process and also feed suggestions back to the learning and development team. Our thoughts are taken on board and there’s been some active changes made as a result. I really like how Ingeus embraces people’s different backgrounds and experiences.” 

 

Now in her early 50’s Sunita is open about another imminent change in her life – menopause. 

 

“I think the impacts of menopause are well understood here,” she adds. “I attend the ‘Let’s talk about Menopause’ sessions Ingeus hosts and find them really helpful. I have some hearing issues too, but nobody judges me if I lose my train of thought or misremember something. All the team is really supportive and there’s flexibility when I need it. Ingeus genuinely practices what it preaches when it comes to diversity – in every shape and form. 

 

“What I’ve learnt in the past four years? Not to be afraid of change…. embrace it!” 

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