Maximus support Nathan back into work at Travelodge
Maximus is proud to be working in partnership with leading employers like Travelodge to provide our participants with the right opportunities to help them move forward with their lives.
Nathan West, 34, had been out for work for over three years when he was first referred to the Restart Scheme in Enfield in October 2021.
After working in several different sectors over the years, he had his sights set on hospitality when he joined the scheme.
Nathan explained: “It’s been really hard for me to look for work over the years. I tried roles in retail, rail engineering, forklift driving, but nothing felt right. I fell down in the dumps and it felt like I was slowly giving up.”
Speaking of his desire to start a career in hospitality, he said: “My other roles made me realise that customer service was where I belong. All the other jobs I’ve had in the past didn’t feel like I was fully utilising all of my skills, which is why I wanted to get into the sector.”
He soon met with his dedicated Employment Advisor, Tasnova Rubia, to help him fulfil his dream of working within hospitality. Tasnova saw from their first meeting that being out of work for so long had left Nathan with extremely low confidence.
She explained: “Nathan’s biggest barrier was his confidence. He didn’t believe in his skills or ability, and his self-esteem was so low that he struggled to make eye contact with me. During his first few appointments, Nathan wasn’t engaging but I made sure that I kept in regular contact with him to help him slowly become more motivated.”
During one-to-one sessions, Tasnova helped Nathan in a number of areas, including updating his CV, job searching, interview techniques and confidence building courses. She also supported him to successfully secure his Food and Hygiene certificates, funded by Maximus, to enhance his existing skills.
After eight months of intensive support on the scheme, Nathan transformed as a person. Tasnova said: “By engaging with him, Nathan slowly started to see that someone was trying and that someone believed in him – which helped him to believe in himself. Before he was very shy and lacked confidence, but now he has great self-belief. He’s completely changed.”
Thanks to Maximus’ existing relationship with Travelodge, Tasnova suggested Nathan apply for one of their roles: “When I first met Nathan, I knew straight away that Travelodge would be one of the companies that could support him and help him to keep building his confidence so as soon as he was ready, we helped him to apply.”
Tasnova put Nathan forward for an interview at their Covent Garden location. He was helped beforehand with mock interviews, and impressed the team so much with his enthusiasm and potential that they offered him a role on the spot.
Mihaela Ardelean, Assistant Manager at Travelodge Covent Garden, said: “We initially interviewed Nathan for a housekeeping role. However, after talking to him during the interview and seeing his personality, it was clear that he was suitable for a front of house position on reception.
“Nathan has lots of potential. He always goes the extra mile for the customers to make sure they have a perfect stay, which is brilliant for us as a business. Since he’s started working with us, he’s gained experience in all departments and I am 100% sure that his career has just started at Travelodge and he will go very far.”
Since joining Travelodge in June 2022, Nathan has been thoroughly loving his new role ever since. He reflected: “Travelodge is literally one of the best jobs I could ever ask for, to be honest. Working here is so much more than I anticipated it to be. It just feels really personal to me to be able to have that emotional connection with the guests to make sure they receive the best possible experience.
“I was nervous at first because when I was younger I tried other schemes that were slightly similar, but they weren’t helpful in any way. But after meeting Tas, it’s made things so much easier for me. Thanks to her, I’m now working here. She’s been a wonder.”
The team in Enfield provided Nathan with travel costs for his first month at work and are continuing to help him with in-work support to ensure he continues to enjoy his role.
Tasnova said: “Once our participants find work through the Restart Scheme, this doesn’t mean our job is done. I make sure I’m in regular contact with Nathan to support with any issues and make sure that he’s happy at work.
“I believe he has a very bright future ahead of him and the potential to progress within Travelodge. Nathan shows that with a little encouragement, we can do so much and help change someone’s life.”
