Inspire Magazine - Autumn

SPOTLIGHT
An asset to the team!
Frazer had been unemployed for five years and struggled with depression and low confidence,
but that all changed with the Skills for Employment programme.
With limited work experience and qualifications on his CV
he couldn’t see a way back into employment, until The Work
Company told him about work placement opportunities
with One Manchester being offered as part of the Skills for
Employment programme. Frazer completed an eight-week
placement with our Assets and Growth team, who have now
taken him on as a technical administrator.
“It’s a tough life being unemployed for so long. You don’t
have the confidence to begin with and then being out of work
makes your confidence even worse and people don’t want
to employ you because you’re not confident, so it’s a vicious
circle.”
“I didn’t see myself being able to get work through normal
means – my CV didn’t look great because of the lack of
experience and qualifications, I couldn’t prove to anyone I
could do the job - so getting a work placement gave me a
chance to put something on my CV. It was a great chance for
me to get experience in the field I actually wanted to work in.
Going into the role I felt like I was being handed an
opportunity, so I was definitely doing my best to make sure
I didn’t let them down. I think that really helped build the
work relationships up because they could see that I had a
positive work ethic and my manager particularly came to rely
on me knowing certain things very quickly and it helped my
confidence. They taught me lots of things and it felt very
much like a team, all working to a larger goal.
Before the placement, it’s no secret that I struggled quite
severely from depression. When you’re not in work it’s
very difficult to stick to a sleeping pattern and I didn’t see
much daylight which didn’t help. Things like getting up,
showering, going outside, anything was quite the ordeal.
Now I don’t mind going outside any more, meeting up
with other people, I have the confidence to do new things,
and a regular salary has put my mind at ease 10-fold.
One Manchester’s really helped because it feels very genuine.
I like it here. It feels more like a family and I’d like to continue to
be a part of that.”
Asset manager and Frazer’s line manager, Jacqui Saw, is proud
to have watched Frazer develop: “When Frazer first joined us
he was a very quiet, shy person with little confidence. Through
training, coaching and encouragement he has evolved into
a confident, self-motivated person, not afraid to ask for help,
liaise with other members of staff and also take the lead in
projects. He is now an invaluable member of the team, always
happy to help and always has a smile on his face.”
For more information
about work placements
email our team at
onefuture@onemanchester.co.uk.
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@onemcr