Maximus is extremely proud to be working in partnership with Tesco to support our participants to return to the labour market.
Since 2019, Tesco in Ystrad Mynach in Wales, has supported a considerable number of our participants to return to work.
Through our employability programmes like the Work and Health Programme (WHP) and Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) contract, Maximus participants are given the opportunity to complete a two-week work placement in a Tesco store.
This opportunity helps them to gain valuable experience, while offering them a full understanding of the company. When the placement ends, participants are offered an interview with the potential of a permanent position, where one is available.
When Iestyn Grills, from Caerphilly, joined Maximus through the Work and Health Programme in September 2019, he had been unemployed for 15 years.
He was struggling with several health conditions including fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder which made looking for work difficult.
He said: “My confidence and self-esteem was incredibly low when I joined Maximus. Employers wouldn’t touch me; they weren’t interested because of the length of time I was unemployed. That was really hard.”
Supported by his dedicated Maximus Employment Advisor, Iestyn attended development sessions, updated his CV and completed a two-week placement with Tesco, before being offered a team colleague position.
Iestyn explained: “The placement with Tesco was great as it showed me what I could achieve. You’ve got to want to work to get back to work and I really did, I just needed a chance to prove it.”
Now three years on, he has built his career within Tesco and been promoted to Duty Manager.
Reflecting on his experience, Iestyn said: “Completing the placement with Tesco gave me the opportunity to prove that I could do it. Without the support from both Maximus and Tesco I wouldn’t be where I am today – it’s the best thing that has happened to me in 15 years. It’s changed my life.
“Being back in work has given me so much more. I’m better off financially, my confidence has grown, and I feel ‘me’ again. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way.”
Mark Jones, Tesco Store Manager, said: “Iestyn is a different person compared to when he first started with us, and I know he will continue to grow and progress. He’s well-liked and respected by his peers and colleagues and always gives 110%. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave and consistently does a fantastic job.
“I’m delighted to say that, not only Iestyn, but many of my key staff colleagues have been supported back into employment through our partnership with Maximus. We’ve had great success working in partnership with Maximus and will continue to do so in the future.”
Maximus and Tesco are committed to creating sustainable employment opportunities for our participants within local communities, and look forward to seeing the relationship develop over the coming years.
If you would like to join Tesco and more than 500 businesses helping individuals back into employment, contact our employability team to find out more.
