P E T-X i C A S E S T U DY Catherine Cullen, aged 24, had struggled to find employment after a major employer in Coventry ceased its operations five years ago.
CATHERINE’S STORY
She secured a place in PET-Xi’s Positive Futures Plus programme to boost her employability following the coronavirus pandemic, allowing her to transition from her previous role in retail to a career in hospitality.
Support provided by PET-Xi Catherine was enrolled in PET-Xi’s Positive Futures Plus programme and achieved a Level 2 Customer Service qualification Positive Futures Plus, helping her to return to employment after a lengthy absence. The Positive Futures Plus Programme aims to provide learners with sought-after workplace skills as well as education on diversity and equality. She then took part in a sector-based work academy organised by PET-Xi, which guarantees learners an interview for a position in their chosen industry at its conclusion. Catherine impressed senior staff and was offered a position at PET-Xi’s new restaurant, Metropolis, as a member of the front of house team. Kerri Bowers, Contract Manager at PET-Xi, said: “Catherine has spent quite a long time away from the workplace, so to show the willingness to get back out there despite her setbacks is fantastic. “We have been able to support her desire to work in the hospitality industry through a combination of schemes as part of her place on the Positive Futures Plus programme, the result of which has seen her gain a placement position at the new restaurant where she will gain valuable experience. “She has shown an excellent attitude and an outgoing personality while she has been with us, which will no doubt carry her a long way in her hospitality career.”
POSITIVE FUTURES
Outcomes Catherine, who is from Coventry, is now hard at work at the recently launched Metropolis restaurant and is planning to carry on gaining experience in the hospitality industry. She will also have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship following her time at PET-Xi in order to achieve further hospitality qualifications thanks to its links with local colleges. She said: “The skills I have gained on the programme and the experience I will gain over the next six months are going to be so valuable to me for finding full-time employment when my placement ends. “I am thoroughly enjoying being part of the team at Metropolis and found the Positive Futures Plus programme to be very engaging and useful. “My time at PET-Xi has been so important in helping me get back to work and I am very happy that they were recommended to me.”
Programme PET-Xi’s Positive Futures Plus programme is designed to provide support to 15 to 24-year-olds in Coventry and Warwickshire who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
PLUS
It combines careers guidance and personal mentoring with the chance to develop CV-writing and interview skills and gain relevant qualifications offered by PET-Xi, including Level 2 Customer Service.
If you would like to do the same course as Catherine we would love to hear from you! To sign up call Kerri Bowers on: 07387 412 949 or email: kbowers@pet-xi.co.uk