RYAN’S STORY
P E T-X i C A S E S T U DY Ryan Hughes, aged 19, was in between jobs and looking for new employment and a fresh learning experience. Ryan, who lives in Coventry, discovered PET-XI through a friend who recommended its services, and hoped to use the business to help him in his efforts to carve out a new career path for himself.
Support provided by PET-Xi Ryan qualified for PET-Xi’s Routes2 programme as a Coventry resident, and was mentored by Curtis Wynter, Mentor Champion at PET-Xi Training, during his first steps to finding new employment. He received CV and cover letter support, plus tips to improve future job applications and sharpen up interview skills. Ryan used his newly developed skills to help him secure a role at XL Motors, a leading regional accident and repair centre. Leia Welland, Head of Skills at PET-Xi Training, said: “It’s been great to witness Ryan’s progression, from when he came to us initially as a young lad looking for work to now, where he is a valued member of the XL Motors team. “Ryan has grown in confidence and has secured the end goal of full-time employment that he initially struggled to find. We’ve heard that after getting through the settling in process he really impressed during the Kickstart period and is doing a great job. I’m sure he’s going to continue to go from strength to strength. We wish him well.”
Outcomes Ryan was the first person to benefit from PET-Xi’s careers partnership with XL Motors, securing himself a Kickstart placement after proving himself to be a valuable addition to the team on work experience.
ROUTES2 PROJECT
He was initially taken on in July 2021 for a work experience placement, officially starting the Kickstart programme in December 2021. Throughout this period, he worked constantly with his managers David and Maggie to hone his craft and find an area of the business that fitted his skillset. Ryan has now seized an opportunity to join the Parts department, after beginning his time at XL Motors as a Technician. Looking ahead to the future, Ryan is focused on making the role his own, becoming an increasingly key part of the Parts team and committing to an automotive parts apprenticeship, with the end goal being to gain an MDQ Level 3 in Parts. He said: “Leia and the PET-Xi team were great with me, providing an opportunity at XL Motors which has enabled me to flourish. I’m looking forward to gaining as much experience and knowhow as I can and repaying the faith XL Motors have placed in me. “I’m now looking to cement myself in the automotive sector, and gain qualifications that will assist me on my quest to further myself professionally and add to my CV.”
Programme PET-Xi’s Routes2 programme has been developed to help 15 to 24-year-olds in Coventry who are unemployed or inactive, or at risk of becoming NEET - Not in Education, Employment or Training. Through a personal mentoring approach and comprehensive programme, participants that are looking for new career opportunities can receive job application support, CV and cover letter writing advice and methods to perfect interview skills, build confidence and accumulate work-based skills. PET-Xi’s Routes2 collaboration with Coventry City Council is part funded through the European Social Fund 2014-2020. The Kickstart Scheme, funded by the UK Government, supports employers who create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.
If you would like to do the same course as Ryan we would love to hear from you! To sign up call Owen McKendry on: 02475 311 814 or email: courses@pet-xi.co.uk