Giving our housing residents help into employment

In housing services, we have expert advisors who are dedicated to helping residents who are out of work into full-time or part-time employment.

Melcom is just one of our residents who has recently benefitted from this service. 

“After leaving education in July 2020, I wanted to start looking for a job but I didn’t know where to begin. My father was in touch with Westminster City Council’s Housing Income Team and they asked if any of our family required support finding a job at this time. My father mentioned I was looking and I was quickly referred to a very helpful housing employment advisor.

We started by talking about myself and my ambitions. I never had to send out a CV before, nor had I been for a job interview, so week-by-week, we spoke in logical order from forming a CV to writing a cover letter to doing well in a job interview. After every meeting, I felt more and more confident. Not only did my advisor guide me on where to look for a job, but he would also regularly call and email me about suitable listings and answer any questions I may have. 

It is safe to say that without the help I received, I would not be in the job I am in right now. I am now employed as a COVID-19 tester with Westminster City Council and started my employment on 4 January 2021. I am very happy with where I am now and I thank the employment team for their assistance”.

Melcom was previously supporting COVID-19 testing of residents at Westminster Cathedral Hall. He is now working at a secondary school in St John’s Wood helping the school to test students as they have returned to their classrooms.

Neil Wightman, Director of Housing said:

“In our Housing Income team, our employment advisors can help residents to develop their confidence and skills, and provide access to training, jobs and continued career progression. Melcom is just one brilliant example of a resident who has benefited from the expert advice and guidance of one of our advisors. As lockdown restrictions ease and the city reopens, we will continue to support residents with improving their employment outcomes”.

If you are housing resident wanting support from one of our specialist housing employment advisors, please contact us.

If you are a Westminster resident looking for tailored training and help to find the right job for you, register for one-on-one coaching at Westminster Employment Service.

You can read more about the council’s employment initiatives in the Thriving Economy pillar in our latest City for All plan.