Work success for student Jack

Work Outcomes Student Jack, is celebrating this week after securing a paid valeting role, combining his love of transport and attention to detail.

Jack has undertaken various work placements while learning at National Star. He has worked with the housekeeping team at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Cheltenham and supported the housekeeping team at National Star.

He is a stickler for ensuring things are clean and tidy and so did very well in both placements. But it was when he started a placement with the transport team at National Star that Jack realised he had found his vocation.

Jack’s passion for transport

Outside work he has a passion for all things transport – planes, trains and automobiles are what Jack loves the most.

And so, when an opportunity materialised to help valet the charity’s fleet of vehicles, he jumped at the chance. Jack soon became a valued member of the team and enjoyed chatting to the drivers and transport office staff.

Jack showed such flair and enthusiasm for the job, that he applied and was successful in securing a permanent role.

Skills and confidence developed at National Star

Work Outcomes Co-ordinator Nicola Noah said: ‘It has been a pleasure to see how Jack’s skills and confidence have developed while learning at National Star. We work hard to source work placements that interest the students and help them to develop transferable skills for the future.

‘Jack has worked hard at all his placements. He is a very different person to the shy, young man who joined National Star two years ago. His mum says he is a changed young man too. We are all so full of pride for all that he has achieved,’ added Nicola.

Jack never stops smiling and proudly talks about his new role to people he meets.

‘It’s amazing to have a paid job. It’s the thing that I love. College helped me to learn about being on time and teamwork. I am so happy,’ said Jack.

Experts at improving employability skills

National Star’s Job Coaches are experts at improving the employability skills of young people with physical and learning disabilities. Patiently getting to know the students, they help to identify the type of paid or voluntary work they would like to secure after college and source work placements to help them build their skills.

Former students have gone on to secure roles in hospitality at various cafes and restaurants across Gloucestershire including The Ivy Cheltenham. Other former students now work in facilities management, vehicle repair and landscape gardening.

If you know a young person with a disability who needs one-to-one support to help them improve their skills and confidence to gain paid employment, encourage them to come along to National Star’s Work Outcomes Student recruitment event on Saturday 20 January, between 10am – 2pm, at Greensteps, next to the Gallagher Retail Park, off Tewkesbury Road in Cheltenham.