From Setback to Success: How James Got Back on Track with His Career Goals
Read about how we helped James reignite his career ambitions
James, 19 from Lewisham, found himself unemployed and struggling to find an apprenticeship after finishing college. That’s when he joined our Building Opportunities programme for support in getting his career back on track.
We began by helping James build confidence in his abilities, supporting him to complete his Level 1 Health and Safety qualification and gain his CSCS card – key steps for him to start work on UK construction sites. Once these were in place, we focused on enhancing his employability skills He worked closely with his CYT coach to create a strong CV, write a compelling cover letter, and develop his interview techniques.
James also took part in weekly one-to-one coaching sessions, where he mapped out his long-term career goals and identified clear steps to reach them. One key step was gaining hands-on experience in the plumbing industry. To make this happen, we arranged a work placement with one of our employer partners. There, James shadowed two plumbers on site, receiving valuable advice and guidance that confirmed plumbing was the right path for him.
Motivated by this experience, James returned to the programme determined to find an apprenticeship. With ongoing support from his coach, he started applying for Level 3 plumbing opportunities – eventually landing an interview with Joe Brennan Training. Applying the techniques he learnt on our programme, he excelled in the interview and was offered the apprenticeship. He has now been in the role for two months and is thriving!
Construction Youth Trust works in local communities across London and North Kent, targeting areas with a high proportion of low-income households and significant construction and regeneration.
Building Opportunities is an intensive coaching programme for disadvantaged young people who are unemployed or at-risk of falling out of the system. Our programme targets the very hardest-to-reach young people in our hub areas and encourages them to take positive next steps towards rewarding work suited to their individual abilities and interests.
