A Wrexham woman who left her job of 24 years because of a health condition is celebrating starting a new career in retail, thanks to help from Remploy, the UK’s leading provider of specialist employment services for people who experience complex barriers to work.
Lorraine Sherlock, 45, received support from Remploy in Wrexham to improve her job prospects – and as a result she is now working at Morrisons’ new flagship store in the town.
Lorraine has debilitating migraines and depression and found working as an administrative officer for HM Revenue and Customs increasingly stressful. Her health issues eventually led to her taking voluntary redundancy last year.
“I was referred to Remploy’s branch in Regent Street by the local Jobcentre Plus and immediately felt better about my employment prospects,” said Lorraine. “My Employment Advisor gave me a tailored action plan to get me back to work that included identifying the type of jobs that really interested me and advice about interview techniques.”
The support paid off for Lorraine who is one of 13 Remploy candidates who have secured jobs at the new Morrisons store, which opens on 21 November.
“Almost 4,000 people applied for 350 jobs at the store, so it’s a tremendous compliment that 20 Remploy candidates were guaranteed interviews and more than half of them were successful,” said Darron Kelly, Remploy’s Wrexham Account Manager. “It shows that Morrisons recognise that we only put forward well-prepared, job-ready candidates.”
Added Lorraine: “It’s fantastic to have a job again. I’m really grateful to Remploy for the support they gave me and particularly for boosting my confidence which took a knock when I was unemployed.”
As well as helping employers fill their vacancies, Remploy provides a range of specialist employment services for people with disabilities and health conditions with the aim of supporting them into sustainable jobs. The branch on Regent Street in Wrexham can be contacted on 0300 456 8055.