Employment Coach Case Study

SOAR’s Employment Coaches offer information & guidance to local people looking to get into employment, training or volunteering. They'll help you build the tools for self-confidence, self-esteem, goal setting and more. Read on to hear Friday's story:

Friday last worked in 2022 in Guyana. Ever since he came to the UK in October 2022, he has not been in work. However, he has been supported by SOAR since June 2025, and officially started work as a caretaker in a secondary school at the end of January 2026!

Initially, Friday was frustrated as he had been struggling to find work for a while, but is happy he is now in work.

Our Employment Team helped Friday source suitable job roles and spend dedicated time completing application forms and write his CV. We also addressed skill development, and we referred Friday to do the CSCS course as his background was as an electrician back in Guyana. Through the Empowerment Fund, we also worked with Friday to get his qualifications translated by ENRIC.

Friday's motivation and confidence were low having been out of work for a long time before signing up with SOAR, and the constant job rejections were having an impact on him mentally.

The CSCS course helped to improve Friday's employability, and our team were able to improve his skills writing his CV, cover letters, and application forms. He officially achieved a CSCS card, and got accepted from the interview he had.

We assisted Friday with accessing public transport so he could afford to get to work at the beginning, to help remove the barrier of having to take multiple buses to get to work. We also made a referral to In-Work support to see if they can assist him with his UK-based electrician qualification.

Friday is now able to hold his own in terms of employability. He’s come a long way with his main barriers being an employment gap and not enough recognised UK qualifications, so his work prospects were very limited. However, his confidence has grown immensely within a few weeks of starting work along with his knowledge of how to apply for jobs, feeling more empowered and independent with securing future job prospects if and when he decides a change is needed.

If you'd like some advice or guidance with finding employment, get in touch with the team on 0114 244 0401 or employment@soarcommunity.org.uk.