Read about people we have helped on their career journey
Andreea's story
Andreea and her husband Adrian moved to Scotland 18 months ago. Although originally from Romania, they most recently lived in Italy and are now settled in Musselburgh with their three year old son.
"As English is not our first language, East Lothian Works through its ESOL programme has been a game changer.
They have helped to improve my spoken English through a really helpful online course, which also allowed us to engage with other people in a similar position and share our feelings and worries."
- Andreea
While they both managed to secure work in a hotel carrying out housekeeping duties, they were both furloughed due to the pandemic and later made redundant with the closure of the hotel.
Positive changes
Andreea comments: "Moving to a new country is difficult but when you are also dealing with a global pandemic, things are much more difficult. However, we got support from East Lothian Works and used lockdown to make some really positive changes to carve out a brighter future."
Support for parents
Andreea and Adrian's determination paid off, with Andrea explaining: "I was referred to an East Lothian Works employability programme, the Parental Employability Support Fund, which supports parents to navigate their way back into work. It was through this programme that I was offered a six-month paid work experience placement with a local garden design company. I am so happy. It's like a miracle. I'm so creative and I am doing something I love. We have overcome so many obstacles and now the future is looking so much brighter. I will be forever grateful for the support East Lothian Works has given me."
Lea-Anne's story
As a single mother Lea-Anne juggles caring responsibilities for her two primary school aged children, one who has complex medical needs, alongside her supporting her ageing parents. She was referred to East Lothian Works by the JobCentre and was anxious about finding work that would fit around her personal circumstances.
Help to get work ready
The Routes to Work group helps people to improve their skills for workplace. The tutor worked with Lea-Anne to prepare a CV that clearly listed all her job experiences and told her story to date. The support also helped to build Lea-Anne’s confidence and she had a more positive outlook towards returning to work. Working with the tutor, Lea-Anne considered her work history and the roles she’d had the most satisfaction in. This led to her think about a new role as a school catering assistant.
Paid work experience
East Lothian Works paid for and helped Lea-Anne to complete her Elementary Food Hygiene qualification which would be needed for this type of role. They also helped her to prepare a personal statement to go with her applications.
With East Lothian Works’ help, Lea-Anne was able to secure a paid work experience opportunity in school catering became available in a school near to her. Towards the end of the six-month placement, a permanent catering assistant position became available.
Moving into employment
Despite positive feedback from her managers throughout her work experience, Lea-Anne was nervous about a formal interview. East Lothian Works worked with her to prepare and arranged mock interviews so that she was more confident before her interview. Lea-Anne was offered the role on a permanent part-time basis and continues to work in the same school.
Debbie's Story
“East Lothian works has helped and supported me get my current role and working life balance back. It is with many thanks to Naomi and David for all the support, time, effort, chats and emails throughout. All staff are very friendly and dedicated.”
- Debbie
Debbie lives in East Lothian with her partner and children. She came back to East Lothian Works when she was looking to make a change in her career. At that time she worked night shift in a Care Home and wanted support to explore her career options. Debbie had previously studied and completed an HNC in Social Care as well as an HNC in Childhood Practice.
Deciding on a change
Talking through her qualifications, previous experience in different roles and her current family commitments with East Lothian Works staff helped Debbie to identify the direction she wanted to go in. She decided what she really enjoyed and would work better for her current circumstances would be working with adults as a Day Services Officer. Debbie had done some locum shifts in the past in Day Centres, so she was able to start to pick up more of these shifts when she had the time.
achieving employment goals
When permanent jobs were advertised Debbie sought support from East Lothian Works staff to complete the application forms and again to prepare for the interview. Debbie was successful and now has a full-time, permanent post that she finds more rewarding and fits better with family life.