Pictured above: Care worker Paul Carpenter (left), who
was helped into employment by Pertemps People Development Group, is
pictured with Castlebeck manager Ryan Sanderbick.
Three job offers in one week marked the end of a Birmingham
man's two-year unemployment ordeal - and the start of a rewarding
new career.
Former welder Paul Carpenter, aged 54, from Kings Norton, is now
enjoying working in the care sector, helping adults with
autism.
He was made redundant in 2008 after 20 years in engineering, but
was inspired to switch careers following several years of caring
for his parents through lengthy periods of illness.
The father-of-three had struggled for five years to find a
permanent job as the engineering industry continued to decline.
Redundancy was the final straw and Paul decided he had to change
direction.
Paul's success in clinching a new job was down to his own hard
work and the support he received from Pertemps People Development
Group (PPDG) through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) - a
£115m employment initiative.
The WNF is a partnership between Be Birmingham, Jobcentre Plus,
Birmingham City Council, and the LSC, which is being delivered
across Birmingham by Edgbaston-based PPDG. One of the key features
of the project is the strong outreach element which sees
employment-based services taken into the heart of communities.
Jobseekers can visit one of the city's many PPDG centres or,
alternatively, make an appointment for a team member to come out to
them and meet at a convenient venue.
Paul said: "My mum had Parkinson's Disease and so I had several
years of caring for her. My father suffered a stroke and heart
attack which left him very much dependent on us. It meant I had
first-hand experience of the rewarding and special work that
individuals do in the care sector.
"I knew it was hard work but I was inspired. I thought it may be
too late in my life to change career but being made redundant was
the push I needed."
He returned to college as a mature student and gained care
sector qualifications in health and social care in May. He met PPDG
employment coach Angela Clarke when she staged a WNF outreach
session at the Masefield Centre in Bourneville.
Angela said: "Paul told me that he was determined to work in the
care industry but didn't know where to start. Paul and I went back
to basics, starting with his CV. Together we compiled one that sold
all his skills and experiences as well as his passion to work in
care.
"Once he had a CV he was unstoppable. He applied for every
single care vacancy I told him about. We worked together on his
employability skills. He attended many courses on subjects such as
interview techniques and completing application forms. It wasn't
long before his hard work paid off and he started securing
interviews.
"After three successful interviews with different employers Paul
found himself in a fantastic situation - he scored the hat-trick,
having three job offers in one week. I am delighted for Paul - he
is an inspiration to us all and is proof that hard work and
dedication does pay off."
Paul is now working for Castlebeck, an organisation that
specialises in caring for adults with autism.
He added: "You are never too old to have a career change. Going
to college to develop my skills and knowledge - and attending
Pertemps People Development Group - are the best things I've ever
done. I feel as though I just want to progress more and more."
Support available for job seekers through WNF includes:
confidence-building and motivation courses, CV preparation and
interview techniques, training and opportunities to gain new
qualifications. Activities are focused across Birmingham and anyone
interested in more finding out further information about how the
WNF can be of assistance is asked to contact the team on 0121 454
7231.
Birmingham based employment specialists Pertemps People
Development Group are one of the UK's leading providers of
Government-funded Welfare to Work initiatives holding a portfolio
of employment related contracts benefiting job seekers across the
West Midlands.