In May of 2021, Crest employed 3 young people through the government’s Kickstart scheme. After six months of training and working with Crest, the first three young people to enrol through the Kickstart employment programme in May 2021, have all been offered permanent positions, due to their efforts and commitment shown throughout their 6 months employment period at Crest.
Amelia, Ben and Tristan have impressed and shown great dedication during their work placements; which resulted in them securing full time positions, as they have proven themselves to be a huge asset to their respective teams and Crest as a whole.
Amelia, 24, has secured a Receptionist/Admin Assistant role. Speaking on this achievement, Amelia said “I’m very grateful to have been offered a role at Crest after my Kickstart contract ended,” This role has been a chance for Amelia to gain skills and experience in a position better suited to her than her previous places of employment, as Amelia explained, “ The Kickstart program has provided me with the opportunity to set a new path for myself after graduating from university into the pandemic, working on and off in hospitality and struggling for employment during lockdowns.”
The Receptionist/Admin Assistant role sees Amelia supporting front of house, answering phone calls from customers wanting to book household collections and booking in customer deliveries from our retail stores across Conwy County.” Each day in reception we encounter something new and each day we spend our time as a team helping customers and finding creative solutions to any hurdles we encounter,” Amelia has said about the role, “I’m glad to be able to utilise my skills in an environment and work place that actively helps people on a daily basis, as well as taking part in several different training courses to gain new skills and qualifications. Crest has been a wonderful company to join and I’m very excited to be part of such a welcoming and supportive work environment. ”
Ben, 21, who has secured a position as a Driver/Van Assistant, said “This scheme has given me a huge opportunity and I am very thankful to the whole team who have been very supportive at Crest. After the Kickstart program had finished, Crest offered me the position as a driver. I took the position and a couple of months in I am still here and now teaching new drivers the ropes.” Ben’s role consists of working with deliveries and collections as well as the bulky waste service provided through the CCBC.
Before the opportunities at Crest, Ben explained that moving to North Wales and not managing to find a place to fit in had been challenging, he said “: “I moved to North Wales after meeting my Husband two and a half years ago, as a couple we have been on benefits for the two and a half years that we have been together, I found that I struggled to fit in with jobs and life in North Wales in general, but Crest have made me feel welcome and made me feel that I belong.” Ben went on to say “I went from working to struggling to survive on benefits when I moved up here, but since working with Crest I have managed to get stable income in a setting that I enjoy and now my partner and I have been able to get our own flat.”
Describing what he enjoys about his current role, Ben talked about his experience working with people in need, “I spend my days driving on open road through the Welsh scenery and helping people face-to-face.”
Tristan, 24, is now an Online Sales Assistant, where he has helped in supporting the ever-growing eBay page for Crest, which is increasing the company’s online sales presence. Tristan, a Kickstarter at Crest, said “Every day at Crest brings something new.”
Outside of Crest and before this position, Tristan already held an interest in pre-loved reselling and often took part in auctions, car boot sales and online market places trading in antiques and collectibles. Tristan stated that in the Online Sales Assistant role he engages in a variety of tasks and activities, saying that “One day I could be climbing into a church organ hunting for any hidden antiques, and the next I’ll be researching some of the world’s rarest action figures that have been kindly donated to us.”
Speaking about what he had gained from working on the Kickstart Scheme, Tristan said “Crest has given me a place to learn new skills, meet some amazing people and gain experience in a safe environment after leaving university into an ever-changing world of work.”
Rod Williams, Managing Director at Crest Cooperative in Llandudno Junction said: “Thanks to the Kickstart programme we’ve managed to fill three key roles with talented people that may never have had a chance in mainstream employment. The Kickstart scheme is a great way of engaging with young people, and providing valued paid work experience at a time when job opportunities are few and far between.”
The Kickstart scheme offers six-month contracted employment to young people aged 16-to-24 and receiving Universal Credit. There are currently several more Kickstarters working at Crest, developing their existing skills and learning new ones.
Here at Crest, we take pride in contributing to the local community and will continue to do so through our multiple different schemes and programmes to help people reach their full potential.