A visit to Remploy's branch has helped a local Kidderminster man to get back into work through the Government's Pathways to Work scheme.
40-year-old Howard Owen had been out of work for almost a year with depression, which was triggered by a family bereavement. The support he received from Remploy gave him the confidence he needed to get back into the world of work and he is now employed as a store assistant at Costcutters on Lister Road.
"I had tried going back to work in retail, but I found it difficult to deal with customers because of how I was feeling and I quickly relapsed," said Howard.
"Even counselling didn't really help towards getting my confidence back."
Howard's local Jobcentre Plus office referred him to the Pathways to Work programme run by Remploy at its Green Street branch. After speaking to an employment advisor there, Howard decided to sign up for Remploy's employability training.
"I went on a week-long course where we took part in all sorts of activities such as role-play, speaking in front of others and working as a team on various projects. We had a good laugh as a group and the whole experience really improved my confidence," said Howard.
Following the training, Howard approached his local Costcutters store and was delighted to be offered a job as a store assistant, responsible for cash handling, stock replenishment and sales.
"I've been back in work a month and it's going really well," said Howard.
"My colleagues are great and I couldn't fault the support I received from Remploy - it really brought me out of myself."
"Howard has all the skills and experience we look for and he's proving to be a brilliant addition to our team," added his manager, Sue Weston.
Pathways to Work was launched in Worcestershire at the end of April this year. It provides a range of services and advice to support people off incapacity benefit and into employment. In addition to the Kidderminster branch, Remploy has opened town centre branches in Worcester, Redditch and Evesham and aims to find jobs for more than 2,600 people in Worcestershire during the initial three years of the programme.