From M&S to the NHS

Former Marks and Spencer’s shop assistant Sue, has found a new job with the NHS following the closure of the Weston-super-Mare branch.

Sue attended a jobs fair at the Winter Gardens, where she discovered Skills Support for the Unemployed (SSU) and the support on offer to help her get a new job.

This programme is delivered by Weston College which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

SSU aims to upskill unemployed people and fast-track them to employment or further training.

We caught up with Sue before starting her job, to find out how SSU supported her on her journey.

“I was in employment for a long time, the sudden closure of our store forced me to enter the job market.

“I found it really difficult to get back into the swing of writing job applications, a lot has changed since I last had to send in an application. My confidence was low, but I found the one-to-one mentoring system really helpful and feel the team at Weston College really supported me through this process.

“I also studied 3 courses; maths, IT and English. I came in at a really low level for my IT, but this process has taught me so much. I really enjoyed all of the courses, they allowed me to develop my skills and truly prepared me for this next stage.

“I am really excited to be starting a new job with the NHS, working on the BRI switchboard in Bristol. It is a complete change from my last job, but I am relishing this opportunity.

“If you’re reading this and unemployed, I highly recommend getting in touch with the team at Weston College. Apply for lots of different courses and develop your skills, it is really beneficial. The team are so helpful, they will answer any questions you may have and are there to support you. Anything is possible when working with the team at Weston College!”

Find out more about SSU, by clicking here.