“I have worked all my life,” says 50 year-old Saidu, who lives in Liverpool. “I’m not used to being inactive and can’t sit idle. Work is good for me, I enjoy interacting with other people and being financially independent. The longer I went without finding work, the more anxious I became – I just needed to get a job.”
 
Saidu’s commitment to get back to work quickly shone through when he was referred by Belle Vale Jobcentre Plus to Ingeus employment coach George Wayland.
 
Ingeus, working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, is delivering the Work and Health Programme (WHP) expansion for Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) in the region. It provides individual employability support to people adversely affected by the pandemic to help them get back to work quickly. It is co-financed by the European Social Fund.
 
“The moment I first spoke to Saidu, his enthusiasm was obvious,” comments George, who helped Saidu update his CV and source security-related vacancies. “He had a clear ‘I can do that’ approach, which paid off. Two weeks later, he started work.”
 
Saidu was successful in gaining a marshalling job at a Covid testing station. Since the role isn’t permanent, Ingeus also organised and paid for the renewal of Saidu’s SIA (Securities Industry Association) licence ensuring he can seamlessly move into frontline security roles again in the future.
 
Saidu is truly grateful, having started work again in mid-February: “George was there to help me every step of the way,” he said. “He listened to me and sorted out any issues. He rang me out of his working hours and did everything he could to get me back to work. I was amazed at the help I got, and only wish I’d been referred to JETS sooner.
 
“I love being out of the house, working again. This work experience, and my newly renewed SIA badge, will be so beneficial when I start to look for my next role.”