Work experience is an extremely vital learning tool for many of our Creating Careers Candidates. So, when Jonathan was offered the opportunity to begin an initial six-week placement with Telford Automobiles, People First was excited to coach him along this journey.
From the beginning it was clear that Jonathan felt comfortable with his surroundings and the staff were keen to help. Jonathan began working one on one with Harry in the Parts department, labelling vehicle parts for customers and putting them into their designated spots. In between helping Harry, Jonathan was washing the exterior of vehicles. Each week Jonathan grew more in confidence, particularly when washing vehicles, and he was able to complete multiple jobs independently throughout his shift. Jonathan became so independent that he required minimal support from me and had built up trust and a reputation with the team, showing he was more than capable of doing the work he was set.
Each week Jonathan met with his Job Coach, Mia, for a coaching session to reflect on what went well and what could do we need to focus on. This helped shape how the placement looked, and the support Jonathan received. Through this reflection Jonathan was able to highlight his strengths and goals. Jonathan began advocating for himself and if something didn’t feel right, he would open up and talk about it to Mia, his family or the staff at Telfords. Multiple members of staff were vocal about their fondness of Jonathan and his work ethic.
“It’s been great having Jonathan. It was great to see him be part of a team, stepping into each job given to him with willingness and determination. A true asset to People First and to us over the last 8 weeks.”
Harry Telford, Business Manager at Telford Automobiles.
Jonathan brightened up the place and brought an infectious positive energy. As a testament to Jonathan’s outstanding work, his placement was extended for a further six weeks.
During this time Jonathan continued to be a valued member of the team and showed everybody what he was capable of. The feedback from Harry and other members of the team was always positive and it was clear they appreciated the work he was doing to help the team.
Greg, Telford, Dealer Principle shared;
“Being in this business for nearly 30 years myself I get to meet many families and people. However, seeing Jonathan join our team with ease and contributing his drive and passion so easily has been really eye-opening and great to see.”
When our final day came it was emotional, Jonathan and Mia had built up some wonderful professional relationships with the staff, and we are extremely grateful for how they supported Jonathan through this journey.
Mia, reflecting on Jonathan's time at Telford's, shared;
"The compassion, kindness and care demonstrated by the team at Telford Automobiles truly reflects the family-led community values that drive the work they do. I couldn’t have asked for a better job coaching experience with Telford's. A huge thank you to all of Team Telford's from People First for creating such a wonderful experience for us."