Shaw Trust offers a variety of services including supporting people back into work. This is how with support from Shaw Trust, Howard set up his own business!
“In May 2019 I became unemployed after a 46 year career as a Dental Technologist. After six months on Job Seekers Allowance, no interviews, and no work, I was put in touch with Shaw Trust’s Work and Health Programme for further help. During one of my meetings the subject of my painting hobby was discussed and I was told that I could receive assistance from Enterprise Exchange, a business start-up support programme, if I wanted to start my own company.
I was given guidance on things to do and not do, given goals and organised into starting my own company over the period of three months, I could also have further sessions if they were needed. During the whole set up process I still had regular contact and the full support from my Shaw Trust Support Manager.
With the guidance of these two organisations I have had a great start to a new career. The whole process and everybody involved has been of great help to me, organising me to the point I have now reached, by doing this I have extended my working life and bypassed the problem of long term unemployment. I am sure without this aid things may have been different, mistakes would have been made, time and money wasted.
I am now a full time self-employed artist with my own company selling artwork on a regular basis from my Hertfordshire based home studio. You can see my work here: https://www.howardacox.com/”
Howard Cox – Participant on the Work and Health Programme.