Pathway to work - Amber’s story

Amber 23, joined the Restart Scheme with a clear vision for her future, seeking structure, financial stability and greater independence. Like many young people at the start of their careers, she faced challenges securing employment due to limited work experience, which had become a barrier when applying for roles.

Sector Taster Days give participants the opportunity to explore different industries, learn more about real job roles and connect directly with local employers. These sessions help participants build confidence, discuss vacancies and share their CVs face to face.

During her initial appointment, Amber met with her Employment Adviser, Martin, who took time to understand her career aspirations and previous experience. Reflecting on their first meeting, Martin shared: “With limited employment history, Amber was concerned that her lack of practical work experience might hold her back when applying for roles.

“As her Employment Adviser, it was important to reassure her that the Restart Scheme is designed to support individuals at every stage of their journey, regardless of age or experience. We discussed how different everyone’s journey back into employment looks as we created a plan of action together, setting realistic targets and an end goal of finding sustainable work.

“Amber had developed a multitude of strong transferable skills, particularly around reliability, attention to detail, and motivation -qualities highly valued by employers. We added this to the gold standard CV we developed together, highlighting Amber’s skills in a clear and confident way.”

Through regular sessions with Martin and the wider team, Amber’s confidence steadily grew. With an updated CV and cover letter, she began applying for roles that genuinely matched her skills and interests. She also took part in Sector Taster Days and attended careers events at the office, where she met employers face to face, discussed opportunities and submitted her CV.

Like Amber, Restart Scheme participants can access vouchers for interview clothing, helping to remove practical barriers and ensuring they feel confident and well-prepared when meeting employers and for their interviews.

Following mock interviews and practice questions with Martin, Amber was invited to interview, and her preparation paid off when she was offered a full-time cleaning role at a local care centre. Martin shared: “Amber is now in work, providing an essential service and building the routine and financial independence she set out to achieve. Her journey shows that with the right support, encouragement and belief, limited experience does not have to be a barrier to success.”

Amber’s story highlights the power of personalised support and the importance of recognising potential - not just experience. We wish Amber every success as she continues to grow in confidence and her career.