Transform Your Career: How One Man Found Success Through Free Guidance and Support

National Careers Week 2023

National Careers Week (3-8 March) highlights the transformative power of careers guidance and free educational resources available across the UK.

Lee's Journey to Career Transformation

39-year-old Lee from Cwmbran completely transformed his work life thanks to personalized career support from Working Wales and the opportunities provided by a Personal Learning Account (PLA).

For years, Lee faced a challenging commute from Cwmbran to Bristol, which negatively impacted his work-life balance. He felt limited in his career progression, expressing a desire to pursue a NEBOSH certification to advance his qualifications but found that his employer could not support this.

Lee's breakthrough came during a visit to the Eisteddfod, where he was motivated to seek guidance from Careers Wales. After discovering PLAs online, he reached out and was connected with Julia, a careers adviser from Working Wales.

Lee remarked, “I couldn’t believe it was free. Julia was incredibly friendly and supportive. We got my application sorted and sent off straight away.” Julia helped him identify a job opening at Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) that aligned with his interests.

Encouraged by Julia's support, Lee applied for the position and successfully secured an interview. He was thrilled to learn that the role would allow him to complete his NEBOSH certification during work hours.

After receiving the job offer, he expressed his excitement: “I couldn’t believe I’d been so lucky to have found a new job and be able to do the training I’d been wanting to do for so long.” Now, with a new role just ten minutes from home, Lee enjoys a better work-life balance, a higher salary, and improved mental health.

He stated, “I’m so glad I was able to find out how great a PLA can be, and the support from Working Wales too. It’s completely turned things around for me.” He encourages others in similar situations to consider reaching out for support.

Working Wales, funded by the Welsh Government, provides careers guidance and employability support for individuals aged 16 and above. For more information on accessing careers support, including PLAs, visit the Working Wales website, call 0800 028 4844, or email workingwales@careerswales.gov.wales.