Case Study

Career switching Tracey changes direction

3 Oct 2022

Tracey from Oldham lost her job as a catering manager during the pandemic. The 55-year-old, who had 25 years’ experience, was also recovering from a knee replacement operation, and tried in vain to find a new job.

“I’d been for a few interviews but was getting knocked back,” remembers Tracey. 

But following a referral to the Working Well (Work and Health Programme) Job Entry Targeted Support (WHP JETS) programme in Greater Manchester, she has switched career and couldn’t be happier.

“I enjoyed catering, but the pandemic changed my thinking,” she continues. “It gave me a push to do something different.”

The WHP JETS programme offered Tracey free, personalised job-hunting support and training. It is delivered regionally by Ingeus, and Tracey said her work coach Helen Emerson was ‘amazing’.

Helen helped Tracey recraft her CV, boosted her confidence and enrolled her on a customer service course which she successfully completed. Tracey also accessed the Ingeus iWorks online platform, benefitting from tools that helped her prepare for interviews.

“Everyone I met on the JETS programme was friendly, understanding and helpful. Helen especially made me feel calm and gave me the confidence I needed,” said Tracey.

Now Tracey has a new job, working from home, as a customer adviser on a telephone helpline. 
“I would not have done this without the help from JETS and I really want to thank everyone especially Helen, I will miss our weekly telephone calls,” added Tracey.

Helen said Tracey had been a pleasure to work with: “Tracey has always been open minded and committed to get back to work and has thrown herself 100 per cent into the activities we have discussed. I am absolutely thrilled that Tracey is starting a new career where I am sure she will thrive.”

Ingeus delivers the Working Well (Work and Health Programme) Job Entry Targeted Support (WHP JETS) programme on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It provides fast acting support for Jobcentre Plus customers who have been on Universal Credit for 13 weeks or more.