Mr C was referred to one of our Employment and Training Officers, Steve, by an Income Officer after he’d lost his job and had started claiming Universal Credit.

Mr C was facing mounting debts. He wanted to work as an electrician and had researched courses himself, but these were long qualifications at significant cost.

Steve did some further research, speaking to local employers about what was needed to gain entry to the industry, and then sourced a local provider to provide the qualification at 10% of the cost that Mr C had initially found.

Steve completed a Riverside Ladders of Aspiration application and was granted £120 to enrol on the course back in January.

In the meantime, Steve helped improve Mr C’s CV, which helped him secure temporary work. With some money coming in, Mr C was able to stop his debts going up any further.

Mr C started his course at the end of January, gained the qualification he needed and moved into a permanent role in February.

Mr C was really proactive and sourced this role himself – one that offered further progression as an electrician and as a mechanical engineer. A small amount of support from Steve and £120 grant from Riverside means that Mr C is now in a secure job and on a great career path.

As another example of the support we are providing in Greater Manchester, Steve has been working to support customers secure work in our new extra care scheme, which we are expecting great outcomes from.