Do Something Different for your Business

Every member of staff you employ is unique – and so are the circumstances that led to them to work in your company.

Not all career paths are straightforward; some of your staff may have started their working life in the same sector they are in now, working their way up to the current position in the classic way. However, that isn’t the case for many people.

It’s not uncommon for individuals to change jobs later in life, or face circumstances which mean that they can no longer follow their original career plan.

We know that making a big change can be scary – for both individuals and businesses as a whole.

But changes – whether big or small, are necessary for growth and improvement. Whether it’s hiring someone who is actively making a change in their career path, or changing the way you hire people.

Maybe that means hiring an apprentice, running a larger recruitment campaign or upskilling your existing workforce through training.

Futures believes in leading by example, so we will be sharing stories from our staff members who have been through career changes or dealt with situations which have affected their career paths in some way.

Jane Blagg - Senior Business Engagement Manager, Futures for Business

“ My working life started 23 years ago as a barmaid/waitress in my local pub. This was initially part time to fit around 6th form and A-levels, and led to a full time position once I’d finished my studies.

“I’ve now been in the recruitment industry 20 years, engaging with candidates and employers in securing job roles. This has now led to my current position as Senior Business Engagement Manager at Futures for Business – a fresh challenge and a new venture but still aligned with building relationships and seeing individuals develop within an organisation.”

Sandra Cowley – Commercial Director, Futures for Business

“I left school at 16 with one O Level, and a few CSE's. I had to find work to earn money to help my parents run our house, so I got a job doing admin in a factory. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long as I was made redundant and found myself NEET (Not in employment, education or training) at 17.

Find out how Futures has helped NEET individuals here.

"At that point, I had no confidence in my abilities, but a great guy, John Fretwell, eventually saw potential in me and gave me a role as a sales assistant in a warehouse and distribution centre - where I stayed for 11 years.

“After maternity leave with my first child, I decided to change roles and became a Sales Coordinator for a large textiles company where I held industry awareness days for those doing textile GCSEs. It was from then I began to consider going back into education and wanting to work for a company with a purpose of supporting people. I was offered a job with my local college and trained as a Careers Guidance Worker helping adults.

"From there, I started to really think about my career and what I wanted to achieve. I worked hard and had the opportunity to complete a teaching qualification in my late 30s, a degree in Business and Management in my early 40s, and a Postgrad qualification in my late 40s. As I knew if I wanted to progress further in my career I needed to get qualifications that complimented my skills.

“I began working at Futures as Commercial Director in 2017.”