Believe in the process - Andrew’s story

When Andrew joined the Restart Scheme it was a challenging time for him, having been made redundant from his job of 25 years, working in the production industry.

At his initial appointment, Andrew met with his Employment Adviser, Harley, who took time to understand his circumstances. Andrew shared that he was struggling both mentally and financially, which had affected his self‑esteem, mindset, and family life.

The Restart Scheme offers personalised wellbeing support to help people manage their mental health and rebuild self‑esteem. Through one‑to‑one support and access to specialist services, participants are supported to improve their confidence, resilience, and overall wellbeing, helping them feel more positive, motivated, and ready to move forward.

As a priority, Harley connected Andrew with our Reed Wellbeing and Reed Financial Inclusion teams for additional support. Alongside this, regular one‑to‑one sessions with Harley helped Andrew rebuild his confidence, improve his mindset, and regain belief in his abilities.

Harley said: “Over time, Andrew’s confidence and outlook improved significantly. He felt motivated and ready to return to work and was open to exploring a wide range of opportunities. To support this next step, I introduced him to our Recruitment Manager to discuss suitable vacancies with local employer partners.”

Andrew attended a careers fair at our office in Hull, where he was able to discuss different roles with employers in person, and was invited to interview on the day. Following the interview, the employer recognised Andrew’s talents, experience, and transferable skillset and offered him a Senior Line Leader position.

Like many participants, Andrew benefited from funded support with travel costs, interview clothing, and workwear, ensuring that starting employment did not create financial pressure.

Once Andrew started his new job Harley provided a bicycle to support his commute to work, which he was thrilled with. Andrew shared: “I am very much enjoying my new role, and I have my life back on track. Believe in the process. When you stay committed and put in the effort, everything has a way of working out.”

Harley told us: “Andrew came to me at one of the most challenging points in his life. From day one, he demonstrated determination, resilience, and a strong work ethic. He committed himself fully to the process, and as a result, we were able to secure a strong employment lead for him within a leadership role in a short space of time.

“I am incredibly proud of how far Andrew has come and truly excited to see what the future holds for him!”