A clean start for Barry
July 30, 2026Posted by:
Barry came in for his initial meeting as part of The Restart Scheme, where he met his Advisor, Steffen Hallett. Barry explained that he'd had a stroke a few years earlier, which affected his speech and movement, and that he'd been unemployed for over a year, leaving him low on confidence and motivation.
Steffen took the time to get to know Barry properly rather than rushing him into anything, and built a strong rapport with him over their first few meetings. Once Barry felt ready, Steffen referred him to an event during Employability Week at the PeoplePlus Tonbridge office. Barry took to it well, and by the end of the week he was feeling a lot more confident and he told Steffen he'd like to find a cleaning role.
Steffen worked closely with the Employment Relationship Manager, Darren Mellford, to find something suitable, and together they secured Barry a role with a local employment group, cleaning a school in High Brooms. Darren spoke with Barry on a number of occasions leading up to the interview, talking him through what the role would involve and going over the job spec in detail, so there were no surprises on the day.
Steffen also practised interview techniques with Barry, both face to face and over the phone, to help him feel more comfortable and prepared. Given that Barry's stroke affected his speech, this preparation mattered a great deal, and Steffen made sure Barry never felt rushed or under pressure during their sessions.
Barry's interview took place over the phone, and he got the job. He was ecstatic, but there was still work to do. Barry had very little experience with IT or using a laptop, so Steffen sat with him to complete his onboarding process. It took three attempts, due to internet issues and being logged out of the system but they got there in the end.
Since starting his cleaning role, Barry has settled in fantastically and has continued to do really well. He's more confident and motivated than when he first walked through the door, and now has his sights set on going on holiday, something that felt totally out of reach when he was unemployed. He still pops into the Tonbridge office every few weeks to say hello, say thank you, and catch up with the team, and it's clear the relationship he built with his Advisor has stuck.
Barry said:
“My time at PeoplePlus has been very good. They've helped me so much with my confidence and applying for jobs. I have enjoyed coming in to the office, which is always warm and friendly.”
July 30, 2026Posted by:
