Persistence pays - Dimitrios’s story

When 19-year-old Dimitrios arrived in the UK from Greece, he faced significant barriers to employment, including limited work experience, no recognised qualifications and little knowledge of the UK job market.

Through the support of the Restart Scheme and his own determination to succeed, he fully engaged, developing his confidence, enhancing his interview skills and taking positive steps towards securing his first job in the UK.

Rather than simply helping people apply for jobs, the Restart Scheme provides personalised support to build confidence, develop skills and overcome barriers, ensuring participants are job-ready and prepared for long-term success in work.

Working closely with Employment Adviser Luke, he created a new CV that highlighted his transferrable skills and attended weekly appointments where he gradually built his confidence. Luke said: “Dimitrios was highly engaged and took every opportunity to build on his experience. Whether it was an activity, workshop or job opportunity, he always put himself forward. He understood that every step was bringing him closer to employment.”

Despite his commitment, success did not come immediately. Dimitrios attended interviews for a variety of roles in hospitality, retail, security and cleaning, but faced repeated setbacks. Rather than giving up, he continued to upskill in the areas he felt were holding him back.

“To help prepare Dimitrios for employment, we arranged several mock interviews to give him experience of different interview styles, the types of questions he could expect, and the level of detail employers look for in responses. We also enrolled him with an external training provider to achieve a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate and funded an Enhanced DBS Check to help broaden his employment opportunities,” said Luke.

From mock interviews to personalised coaching, the Restart Scheme equips participants with the skills, confidence and techniques needed to succeed at every stage of the interview process.

Dimitrios said: “I knew I wanted to work. Even when I didn’t get the jobs, I just kept trying because I believed eventually someone would give me a chance.”

After months of determination and hard work, Dimitrios’ persistence paid off when the Restart Scheme connected him with a housekeeping opportunity at a local hotel. Following a successful trial shift, he secured his first job in the UK, marking the start of a more independent future.

Reflecting on his journey, Dimitrios said: “The Restart Scheme helped me to complete new courses, job applications, and support with wellbeing and resilience. It helped me stay on track and keep going until I found a job.”