A Middlesbrough handyman unemployed for more than 10 years has finally fixed his unemployment issues after nailing down a full-time job as health and safety officer with employment and training experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG).
Mike Carroll, 46, had no qualifications and hadn’t worked for more than a decade when he was referred to PPDG for help as part of the Employment Zone initiative.
Desperate to work, Mike felt his confidence slipping away as he became a carer for a sick relative and couldn’t find a position to suit the flexibility he needed.
PPDG offered him the support and development to build his motivation, enabling him to acquire computer skills and gain new qualifications in Maths and English and he successfully applied for a part time role as a handyman with the company.
Now, three years on and embracing increasing responsibility for more of PPDG’s advancement centres, Mike has been appointed as one of the company’s full-time health and safety officers.
“I am still pinching myself, I never dreamt I would end up with a job like this – such jobs were always for other people and not me,” said Mike.
“When I first came to PPDG, I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights - frightened to speak but I’ve always been handy at fixing things and demonstrated this to my coach. I’d never had a proper job, using a computer or sending emails was completely alien to me but look at me now, I never thought it would be the start of anything so fantastic.
“Although I was very nervous at first you soon start to have more self-belief as your confidence grows. So when a colleague suggested I applied for such an important position I didn’t even think I’d get an interview. Now I’ve got a regular income, IOSH qualifications, I manage risk assessments and undertake accident investigations - I’m so proud of myself.”
PPDG - which has established offices across Tees Valley, Yorkshire and Humberside with in-house learndirect facilities – delivers specialist services on behalf of organisations including the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Skills funding Agency (SFA) Ministry of Justice (MOJ), National Offender Management Service and Jobcentre Plus.
“We’re so proud of Mike’s promotion, he’s a tremendous asset and a committed individual who has progressed within the business through application and dedication,” said Richard Johns, group health and safety manager.
The organisation – which has helped more than 7500 people formerly-unemployed into work since it was established in Teesside in 2003 - is now rapidly expanding throughout the North.
To learn more about the services of PPDG or Learndirect please contact the team on 01642 755500.
