Helping local people to find meaningful work and fulfilling careers is at the core of Halifax Opportunities Trust’s mission to build vibrant, multi-cultural and self-sustaining communities in Calderdale, so when our Employment Services team received a referral from the local Job Centre to help Aaron Mcdonald find work our advisors were straight on the case.
Employment Advisor, Jo Denny, met with Aaron at his local Job Centre to discuss his options and within a week had arranged a one-month work trial with local windows and doors merchant, UPVC Hardware Direct. Aaron, 21, started with the company a week later, helping to upload products to their website and carrying out design work for their sister-company, Halifax Doors and Windows. Having studied IT at college, Aaron was perfectly suited to support managing director, Martin Banks, with the technical day-to-day running of the business – even implementing new systems to make order tracking and packing more reliable and streamlined.
As the month-long trial came to an end, there was no question for Martin about whether or not to keep Aaron on. “I’d had people come for trials in the past who were unreliable and not up to the job, but Aaron just got it from the start and really proved his worth. The more he got involved with, the more I knew I’d be keeping him on.” Said Martin.
Aaron has been with the team at UPVC Hardware Direct for 6 months now and hasn’t looked back once: “It’s been a real boost for my confidence finding work that I enjoy and a company that I can grow with and hopefully have a long-term career with. Working for Martin has given me scope for development.”
The Employment Services team at Halifax Opportunities Trust work closely with job seekers to find good quality jobs and the experienced employment advisors pride themselves on putting customers at the heart of their job-search. The team have excellent links with local employers and regularly arrange work trials to give customers a feel for specific roles as well as giving employers the chance to ‘try-out’ potential employees before committing to a contract of employment.
Employment Services Co-ordinator, Lisa Connelly said: “We’re so proud of Aaron and what he has achieved. He came to us looking for a chance to gain meaningful employment had he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.” Martin Banks of UPVC Hardware Direct added, “I’d definitely go through this process with Halifax Opportunities Trust again, their Employment Team have really come up trumps with Aaron – the whole process has been a smooth one.”
For more information about Halifax Opportunities Trust’s Employment Services contact Lisa Connelly on 01422 347392.
