Tom’s time has come
1 Oct 2025
Aspiring writer Tom has led a colourful life, and at 63 years-young his story is far from over. Turning the page on a hugely difficult period of his life which saw him unemployed and at risk of losing his home, he’s rewriting his future with a leadership role at one of Manchester’s largest and newest retailers.
Tom’s story – which he’s profiling in his new novel Tomalogues – explores his journey of self-discovery from childhood trauma, time in the army, and as a practicing Mormon. Taking a dark turn as a successful 30-year career ended and a serious back injury resulted in more than a year out of work, crippling debts, and major mental health battles, his story is now destined for a much happier ending.
Tom was referred to the Restart Scheme, which gives tailored support to jobseekers and is delivered by Ingeus in Greater Manchester, in June 2024 and set to work with career coach, Michelle.
“I have a lot of past work experience but more recently had been a carer for my mum and trying to develop my writing career,” explains Tom, who lives in Salford. “Being unemployed took a big toll on my finances and mental health. I needed to get through it, I needed help. I hadn’t had to actively prepare for and look for work for years; everything had changed a lot.”
Recognising Tom’s executive level potential, Michelle supported him with CV guidance, social media updates, interview coaching, and mindset training to build his confidence. He also enlisted support from a debt charity to prevent eviction from his home.
“We discussed Tom’s job goals and monitored both his physical and mental wellbeing,” adds Michelle. “He approached every mock interview with professionalism and purpose, dressing to impress with some clothing vouchers we provided, and delivering standout storytelling that showcased his leadership potential, even when applying for entry-level roles.”
That preparation proved instrumental in what happened next, as home retailer Dunelm prepared, with Ingeus’s help, to staff its yet-to-be opened new store at Manchester Fort.
Tom attended a group interview for a customer support role. He impressed the Dunelm hiring team so much they called him back that day to suggest he apply for a leadership role. Two days later and he was offered a Store Operations Coach role, to manage and mentor his customer service colleagues.
“I’m absolutely loving it,” adds Tom, who commenced work in April 2025, training and setting up the store ready for its June opening. “It’s been a massive effort to get the store ready to open but it’s a really good team, many of whom have come via Ingeus too.
“Having the security of a job is life changing. I’ve retained my home, which is a huge weight off my shoulders and can continue my writing as a sideline. For me, age is just a number – there’s many more chapters to add to my Tomalogues yet!”
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