Mark Crombie

A Durham man has started his career in electrical engineering after getting effective support from DurhamEnable to achieve an apprenticeship role.

Adam, 21, earned a distinction in college, studying design engineering, and after making a self-referral to DurhamEnable, gained his place as an Apprentice Electrical Design Engineer with Sine Consulting Limited.

Adam was looking for opportunities before support started and applied for the apprenticeship with Sine after attending an open day with the company.

Support was put in place quickly to help Adam overcome the barriers he faced due to anxiety, as the offer for an interview came soon after his registration with DurhamEnable.

Adam’s Job Coach, Kelly, said: “He wanted a little bit of moral support to go along to the interview, and asked around reasonable adjustments.”

Kelly spoke to Sine Consulting, and arranged for reasonable adjustments to be made to help overcome any barriers Adam would face in his interview.

With the right support in place, Adam performed well and was offered a second interview, which Kelly was on hand to support with again.

Kelly said: “He absolutely smashed it, he was really good with the way he delivered and showed no signs of anxiety.”

Adam added: “All support was considered very professionally, efficiently and then carried out very effectively in a very short span of time which definitely helped.”

Adam was successful at his interview and offered the apprenticeship post. From there, DurhamEnable worked with Sine Consulting to put in-work support in place, as well as make reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Kelly said: “Through all of that the employer came to me and said that it would be good to work further with DurhamEnable, and they were interested in the offer of being a more inclusive employer.”

“They were really, really good. Really supportive. It’s made Adam more confident in the workplace.” Kelly added.

Since starting, Adam has thrived in work, with a range of duties including modelling solar panel systems and calculating the estimated energy production or designing fire alarm or security systems for buildings.

Sine Consulting said: “The support and encouragement given to Adam gave him the confidence to attend the interviews, which he may not have done without that support. Adam has adapted well to his new role and continues to benefit from the support available to him.”

After leaving college, Lucy found DurhamEnable at an open event, and expressed her desire to work in a friendly and welcoming café environment. With the guidance and support of DurhamEnable’s Local Supported Employment (LSE) team, Lucy’s dream gradually became a reality.

The transition from education to the workforce can be daunting, especially for individuals with unique support needs like Lucy. However, with determination and the assistance of DurhamEnable, Lucy overcame potential barriers to employment.

With support of the LSE team, Lucy secured a position at the Daisy Rose Coffee House in Durham. The staff at Daisy Rose Coffee House excelled in welcoming Lucy and supporting her as she settled into her new role.

Working closely with DurhamEnable and the team at Daisy Rose Coffee House, Lucy has not only gained meaningful employment but has also contributed to creating an inclusive workplace environment. Lucy has now been working at the Coffee House for close to six months, and in that time, her confidence has bloomed, forming close connections to all of the staff and customers.

DurhamEnable’s commitment to empowering individuals like Lucy demonstrates the organisation’s dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting the employment of individuals with diverse support needs.

Lucy’s journey to employment success transcript.pdf

If, like Lucy, you’re facing barriers getting into work, get in touch. 

“It’s been good. I’m enjoying working here and I like the tasks I do!” – Ethan.

HUB Manager Donna shared, “We are over the moon with Ethan. He has settled in well and become a valued member of the team. Ethan has grown in confidence, and we are getting to see more of his personality. It has been great to see Ethan working on the shop floor and welcoming customers into the HUB.”.