Nick

Nick Cowan, 41, from Clifton is a team leader at the NHS Direct call centre in Bedford, which offers 24 hour health advice and information.

After 23 years as an infantry soldier on active duty in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland, Nick's army career came to an abrupt end while on an exercise. He injured his lower spine and had to undergo spinal fusion surgery which left him disabled and in pain. After six months of rehabilitation, he was medically discharged from the army in March 2007.

Nick found out about Remploy through a workshop run by the Career Transition Partnership, which assists ex-service people with the move back into civilian life. After several one to one sessions, Remploy employment advisor Sharon Knott identified a vacancy and encouraged him to apply for the job with NHS Direct.

"Nick was very proactive in looking for a job and was committed to getting the team leader role," said Sharon. "He was up against four or five internal candidates but was successful and was called back for a second interview where he had to give a presentation."

Once he'd been offered the job, Remploy then provided the aftercare Nick needed, accessing funding to get him a chair to support his spine so he could work in comfort. He explained: "I am still on painkillers and have to use a walking stick but since I got the chair, I can relax at my desk and work's a joy."

Nick started his new role in November and received five weeks in-house training. Now he is supervising up to 20 nurses and advisors in the call centre as well as doing personnel checks and career follow ups. The centre is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer health information to patients so Nick works full time shifts at different times of the day.

"Remploy was there constantly to give me the support I needed," he said. "I don't believe I could have done it without Sharon's help. Just getting back to work has been brilliant."