27 September 2024

As a native of Newton Heath, Kai has always been familiar with the YES Centre and the services our charity offers. At 17, he walked into the YES Centre seeking support in finding meaningful employment.

“Whether it was getting a CSCS card, gaining construction skills like manual handling and asbestos awareness, or getting onto a building site, YES always provided me with support,” Kai recalls.

With the help of YES, Kai continuously secured jobs and gained qualifications, but his desire for contracted, full-time work grew.

“I couldn’t just keep going in and out of work like when I was younger,” he explains. With bills and rent to pay, Kai needed the security of contracted employment.

As a result, Kai began applying for apprenticeships with the help of YES Employability Support Manager, Sammy. Despite some rejections, Kai remained committed, visiting the YES Centre daily in hopes of securing a permanent role.

One day, during one of his visits, Sammy highlighted a newly announced vacancy with the YES team for a Trainee Administrator, a position funded through the government’s Kickstart scheme, which subsidized employers to hire young people aged 18-25 for six-month work experience roles.

Recognising Kai’s enthusiasm and previous office experience, Sammy asked if he’d be interested in the position at YES. Kai immediately responded, “Yeah, definitely.”

“I came into the YES Centre to do some interview prep with the team and research the organisation’s background,” Kai recalls. “I was offered the position just an hour or two after my interview.”

As the six-month placement drew to a close, Kai began to wonder what was next, but his employer had other plans.

“My manager said she wanted to offer me a permanent role, and I could also choose to do an apprenticeship alongside the job. She gave me a progression path, and it felt really nice to be given the opportunity to excel. I never felt like just another number here, like I was only there for a short time. I’ve always felt appreciated and supported.”

The sense of community at YES is central to the charity’s mission, and Kai felt this deeply when he joined the team. “The team has my best interests at heart, and that’s why I try my best for them and the organisation, because I know they’d do the same for me.”

Starting as a Trainee Administrator, Kai was promoted to Operations Assistant and earned his Level 3 Data Technician qualification. He is now working towards his Level 3 in Information, Advice, and Guidance to support customers. “There’s been a great progression path at YES, even in just three years,” he says.

Looking to the future, Kai says, “I just want to keep progressing. I don’t want to stay still; I want to learn about every aspect of the business. I hope to see YES expand as a charity, with more funders and more people understanding how effective we are in the community, so I can grow in my role as well.”

From first walking into the YES Centre at 17 to now becoming a permanent employee at 25 as a Digital Support Officer/Operations Assistant, Kai’s top advice for customers is not to give up.

“You will get rejected. There were loads of applications I submitted that didn’t go anywhere. It wasn’t some magical opportunity that appeared out of nowhere. It’s all about how much work and dedication you put into getting a job. The stepping stones that got me here—from being a bin man, working in construction, on the railway, and even at Footasylum—everything along the way led me to where I am today.”