Restart Scheme
Olu was unemployed and had been receiving Universal Credit for several months. He was referred to the Restart Scheme and joined in Walsall with Starting Point Recruitment, being assigned Samantha Howes as his Job Coach.
With support from Samantha and Starting Point Recruitment, Olu was able to access work clothes that were suitable for both warehouse and office roles. Samantha enrolled Olu in various training courses, including Call Handler training, and undertook interview preparation sessions to get him ready for interviews with potential employers.
Olu did manage to secure an initial role during his time on the Restart Scheme, but it was too physically demanding and in an inconvenient location for him. Due to this, Olu had to leave the role because of unsustainable commuting costs and insufficient working hours. His subsequent pursuit of warehouse jobs was cut short due to an unfortunate asthma attack triggered by poor air quality.
Despite these setbacks, Olu's progress was rapid. He interviewed with a range of different employers, and within a matter of months, he transitioned from being unemployed to securing a role as a Restart Scheme Client Onboarding Coordinator at Serco.
With a monthly salary now replacing the Universal Credit allowance, Olu has been able to improve his quality of life and start planning for the future. His newfound employment has brought a boost in self-esteem, as he continues contributing to society and helping others who were once in his shoes.
