Alan

Alan makes a clean start with Asda.

Although 46-year-old Alan Ruxton had spent the previous 21 years out of work, it took one referral from his local Jobcentre Plus and precisely four days for Remploy to find him a job!

Alan has clinical depression and, with such an extended history of being out of work, his major issue was a lack of self-belief. Over four days, Remploy offered professional help, and they and Alan started to break down the barriers he faced. Alan and his employment advisor soon realised that the best way to achieve a satisfactory outcome was to get Alan back to work. This way he could rebuild his self-confidence for himself. Remploy contacted City Facilities Management (UK) Ltd, the company that cleans Asda's stores to professional standards, and Alan was interviewed and offered a job there and then at the Hunts Cross shopping centre near Liverpool.

Though very nervous on his first day, Alan soon realised he had an understanding boss in store cleaning manager Clare Beckinsale, who continues to be very supportive of both Alan and Remploy.

"A person's disability is not the reason why they are appointed," said Clare. "All my colleagues have proven they can do the job, and Alan's certainly one of them. What's more, I know I can rely on Remploy to recommend the right people for my vacancies. By working together we know that everyone can win."

Alan added, "I'm determined to do the job to the best of my ability for Remploy, for my employer and for myself. My independence is important to me and, after so long being out of work, I had forgotten that having a job meant having a sense of purpose. I've now got both."