Katrina takes her NEXT step

There has been some remarkable stories and achievements since the project began, one of which is detailed belowatrina joined the programme in August 2018, having recently been made redundant from her job childcare.

There have been some remarkable stories and achievements since the project began, one of which is detailed below.

Katrina joined the programme in August 2018, having recently been made redundant from her job in childcare.

She had several issues that impacted on her ability to work: autism, a hearing impairment, severe asthma, hay fever, dyspraxia, dyslexia, anxiety and depression. Katrina was looking for part-time work and came to Building Futures for some support and guidance in finding a job.

Katrina excelled at Building Futures from day one, and was always very keen to engage with her key-worker. She always attended her appointments and was always on time. She did everything that was asked and fully committed to her individual programme.

Working with Katrina, Building Futures helped to update her CV and to come up with a list of suitable jobs and companies that could be right for her.

One company that Katrina was very keen to work for was Next Ltd in the Eden Shopping Centre, High Wycombe. As a national organisation, Next have an online application process which includes a numeracy and English test as well as a personality profile test. A member of staff took the time to sit with Katrina while she completed her application form, and she needed no support with her numeracy or English at this stage. However, unfortunately, Katrina was not successful at passing the personality test and she was therefore not shortlisted for interview.

A representative from Building Futures used their initiative and decided to speak to the manager from the Next store to explain Katrina’s circumstances and to highlight that her autism makes it hard to correctly complete the personality test to the best of her ability.

Katrina was then offered a telephone interview and an in person interview which she handled with confidence and skill, and she was subsequently offered a job with Next. She’s doing so well that her manager has already put her forward for a pay rise and congratulated her for receiving some exemplary customer feedback for her helpfulness:

“Katrina is a welcome addition to our team, she has been well received by everyone, staff and customers alike. Her best asset is her smile and her amazing customer service. She has had customer compliments via our service survey describing her as:

“Very friendly and helpful” 
“Good manners and customer service skills” 
“Always smiling and asking me about my day” 
“Star staff member!” 

Katrina has picked up tills quickly with a great knowledge of the clothes available, hopefully she can continue to improve and support the store through the busy Christmas period.” — Erica Goff, Store Manager, Next Eden Centre