Francine is a Westminster resident who had low confidence and self-esteem as a new mother re-entering the employment market. She was supported by Michaella, an ERM for WES Jobs and Training, who used innovative solutions to make the employment process less daunting.

Michaella diligently looked over Francine’s CV and saw that with her transferable skills and experience, she was an ideal candidate for a variety of roles within the council.

After using her strong internal relationships to broker what Francine now calls her “dream job”, they wrote a cover letter to the hiring Manager, conducted 3 coaching sessions and a mock interview.

Francine used her new platform to showcase her suitability for the role that is now her job.

Nikoletta Gjergji, an Employer relationship manager at WES Jobs & Training successfully recruited 19 locals as Social Distancing Ambassadors.

A new role developed by Heart of London Business Alliance (HoLBA) and New West End Company (NWEC) as a proactive step to increase employment in Westminster whilst safeguarding the reopening of West London.

Lukas lost his job due to COVID-19. He worked with our Employment Relationship Manager Nikoletta Gjergji. She helped him modify his CV and Cover letter to better suit the current employment market.

After acquiring an opportunity through her long standing and trusted relationship with Continental Landscapes, Nikki thought Lukas was a potential match and approached him to apply. Lukas was successful at interview after receiving preparation from Nikki. He now works as a Ground Maintenance operative at Continental Landscapes and both he and his employer are happy with the job match.

Amir is a local Westminster resident from Pimlico. He has been working with Kirsty from the Integrated Gangs Unit who help young people who are at risk of joining a gang. He joined Westminster City Council as an apprentice, and is now helping people to find careers in the construction industry.

Amir's energy, positivity and bright smile are a great addition to the team.

As a care leaver and single mother, Keighley was acutely aware that without additional support her odds of becoming gainfully employed were low. Michaella, an Employment Relationship Manager for WES Jobs and Training, worked closely with Keighley and assisted her in dissecting the insecurity and low self-esteem that was limiting her ability to succeed in getting a job. 

Michaella offered guidance on properly writing a CV and demonstrated the impact of proper cover letter etiquette. She held several interview workshops with Keighley, encouraging her to use her previous experiences to bolster her answers and impress employers. Michaella also appealed to a senior member of staff to mentor Keighley and provide some insight into navigating working life. 

As a result, Keighley has been shortlisted for three jobs and has “a brighter career path”.

Lu is a 20-year-old young person from the north of the borough who was referred to train and work as a Bike Mechanic for 6 months by one of our Service Teams. Trainees repair unwanted bikes diverted from the waste stream, which are then donated or sold on. “I was interested in doing the project because I have been riding bikes for a long time and I have always wanted to up my skills and gain a better understanding of bikes. I had a good experience with the training, and I have learnt a lot more than I thought I could.”

“I would like to go on to working in a bike shop after I’ve finished this and try to put everything I’ve learned to some good use. I can see myself working in the bike trade in the future. There’s so much more to learn but I’m really happy to have got so far.”

Sarah was referred to HELP and registered in November. She is married and lives in a housing association property.

Sarah was very determined to find work in a scientific related field and was the holder of two bachelor’s degrees as well as two master’s degree’s in both chemical research as well as business administration. Sarah was aware that her lack of experience was a limiting factor to her finding her dream job straight away. She became a lab assistant and gained the necessary skills before moving forward to her desired position. Sarah was eventually offered a great role as a lab researcher based in Reading, the role included travel and accommodation paid for and had scope for progression.

Paige is one of the 21 successful kickstarters at Westminster City Council who attended the Kickstart Insight Day on 2 June 2021. From the outset, she needed guidance around career mapping to gauge how prospective roles and the skills involved would influence her future in the job market. With the support of Michaella, Employment Relationship Manager for WES Jobs and Training, she narrowed down her passions and aspirations that helped her to make an informed decision about the perfect role for her.

During the application process, Michaella conducted intensive interview preparation to increase her chances of success. Together, they worked through the STAR technique to build Paige’s confidence, which helped her to utilise her previous experiences and positive outcomes.

"The training offered by Michaella allowed me to hone in on my expectations of the role and encouraged me to show my personality and passion to the hiring managers. This is the best recruitment experience I have honestly ever had."