Kickstart provides an entry into full-time employment for university graduate Tom Sherratt
For Tom Sherratt, like many other aspiring university graduates, crossing the bridge from further education into the workplace provided substantial difficulties. However, after being provided with an opportunity to work with Northampton Town Community Trust, Tom has been able to secure full-time employment.
After graduating in Physical Education and Sport from the University of East Anglia, Tom encountered little workplace opportunities. However, Tom’s luck changed, as he was given a placement at Northampton Town Community Trust to work as an Education and Sport Mentor as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
Tom welcomed the opportunity, as he was given the chance to incorporate the skills and expertise he had learnt through university within the professional workplace.
Tom talked to us about his experiences with the Kickstart scheme:
“The Kickstart Scheme was fantastic for me as it prepared me for work and gave me the skills to progress into employment. I was provided with specialist training to help with my development, including Emergency First aid and Premier League Reading Stars training, which I am now able to deliver and use in my role.”
After generating an overwhelmingly positive impact within his 6-month placement, Tom was then given the opportunity to work on a full-time basis. Tom welcomed the opportunity to work in a full-time role, and has embraced the challenge to make a difference within the community, through his boyhood club:
“I was mentored by staff at Northampton Town FC Community Trust and given opportunities to shadow throughout the placement, developing my confidence and understanding of the role.”
“As a Northampton Town fan it is a huge privilege to now work full time within the club I support and be able to make a difference by bringing communities together.”
Tom’s impact during his placement was recognised by Anna Letts, Programmes Manager at Northampton Town FC Community Trust, she said:
“Tom is an example of a young person who started with us for the 6-month allotted funded time working in our schools programme and really applied himself to the role. He has worked hard, taken advice on board, shadowed experienced staff, and really developed; so, we have taken him on full time. We hope to welcome other Kickstarter’s in other roles at the trust in the same way.”
For Tom, with full-time employment being fully underway and being able to represent his boyhood club, the world is now his oyster.
For more information about the Kickstart programme, click here.
