Press Release: Thomas takes a step on the ladder

A Birmingham man has laid the foundations for a great career with the help of Next Step and Phoenix Training.
Thomas Beasley, from Selly Park, took the first step into his new career after visiting Next Step advisers at Phoenix Training back in August 2010, having been out of work for seven months.
The 52-year-old wanted to improve his prospects for a career in construction by obtaining qualifications through the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS). 
Thomas is dyslexic but has never allowed this to stop him from achieving his goals. 
And after attending an open-day he enrolled on a Basic Skills Course as he felt this would help him to complete the CSCS training, which is mainly theory based.  
He was guided through the work by Phoenix’s staff and five months on Thomas finds himself in full-time employment working as a construction assistant for Birmingham City Council.
He said: “I am delighted, this is the best job I have had in years.
“Before I was unemployed I had worked in the scrap business from the age of 12.
“I really wanted to work in construction but my dyslexia meant the theory-based exams were quite difficult for me and I tended to rush them.
“I was a bit nervous at first but the staff at Phoenix advised me on the best way to tackle it, using a system where I could take my time.
“The next time I took the test I scored 40 out of 40 and now I have a CSCS card until 2015.
“Next Step helped me to search for a number of different jobs, and they also helped me to produce a new CV to include all the new qualifications I have achieved with them.
“These include level one, two and three construction skills, ground services, scaffolding skills, first aid and basic skills.
“This obviously benefited me in the interview process and helped me to get a job that I am really enjoying.
“At the moment I am supervising small groups of workers as we clear sites which we will soon be building on.”
Next Step service offers face-to-face careers and skills advice to people aged 19 and over. 
Funded by the Skills Funding Agency the service is available at centres throughout the West Midlands, over the phone on 0800 100 900 or online at direct.gov.uk/nextstep.
Louise Tomlinson of Phoenix Training Services, said: “We are really pleased for Thomas and he deserves the success he is experiencing.
“When he came to us he was desperate to get back into work and what he has achieved just goes to show that it can be done, even in times where jobs are hard to come by.
“The interviewer had been impressed with Thomas’s experience, motivation and qualifications and felt that he was the best candidate for the job.  
“Thomas has even been back to visit Phoenix to express his gratitude to the Next Step staff for all the support he received at the centre.”
For more information contact Next Step on 0800 100 900, Monday to Friday from 8am to 10pm seven days a week or search online for Next Step.
END

Media enquiries:

Joe Hewison

Advent Communications

2 Edison Building

Electric Wharf

Sandy Lane

Coventry CV1 4JA

Tel: 024 7663 3636

http://www.advent-communications.co.uk