A few months ago, Junior’s gained his first experience of work with the Restart Scheme, where he spoke about the confidence and skills he gained during a work experience placement at The Range.
Now, Junior has reached another important milestone, securing his first paid job! After completing his placement at The Range, Junior remained focused on finding work. Although he was unsuccessful in securing a permanent role, he used the experience as motivation to continue pursuing employment.
With support from his COPA Job Coach, Charley, and the wider Restart Scheme team, Junior continued searching for opportunities while building on the skills and confidence he had developed through his placement.
An opportunity was later identified by Laura Evans from Serco’s Employer Engagement Team for a Cleaning Operative role. Following a successful pre-screening interview with Izzy from the Employer Engagement Team, Junior was invited to attend a formal interview in July 2026.
Like many people attending an interview, Junior felt nervous beforehand. However, he approached the opportunity with determination and shortly afterwards received the news he had been hoping for, he had successfully secured the role.
Junior started work on in July 2026, marking his first paid employment opportunity.
One of the barriers Junior faced was travelling to and from work. To help remove this challenge, the Restart Scheme provided in-work support, including assistance with travel costs during the early stages of employment. He was also provided with work clothing to help him make a positive start in his new role.
Reflecting on Junior’s progress, his COPA Job Coach, Charley, said:
“Junior has been a credit while on programme and always comes to every appointment with a smile on his face. He is always full of energy and deserves to be successful in this role after the barriers he has faced in the past. It has been fantastic to see Junior overcome the challenges he faced around travelling to work, and I am pleased that we have been able to provide ongoing support, including travel assistance and work clothing, to help him make a successful start in his first paid role.”
Securing his first paid job is a significant achievement for Junior and reflects the hard work, resilience and determination he has shown throughout his time on the Restart Scheme. He continues to receive in-work support as he settles into his new role and takes the next steps in his career.
