Since August 2025, Forest has been providing e-bike services for Hounslow residents while strengthening its commitment to inclusive employment. The company has joined Hounslow Council’s Inclusive Employment Forum and registered as a Disability Confident Employer. Recently, the company hired a young person from Feltham as an apprentice.

Khyle (pictured, left), 23, grew up in Feltham and recently joined Forest as a bookkeeping apprentice. Connor Browne, Management Accountant (pictured, middle) and Khyle’s line manager (pictured middle), praised Khyle’s positive performance:

“Finance can seem rigid and all about numbers, but Khyle brings great qualities to his role - attention to detail and a willingness to learn. On top of that, he has strong communication skills which are much harder to teach. He’s confident, chatty and builds great relationships across teams.”

Khyle shared what he loves most about his current job.

“For me, working at Forest is life-changing. Everyone is friendly. It feels like a family. I don’t find it hard to connect with people. Being a people person is one of my best qualities. Plus, I love that I can cycle around Feltham and commute from Waterloo Station to the office.”

Julia Harrington, Head of People a Forest (pictured, right), praised the Council’s efforts to promote inclusive employment.

“I’ve joined the monthly Lunch and Learn sessions for employers and discovered many opportunities to help young people start their career journey. I’ve signed up to support young people with job interview training in the new year and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Connor also appreciated Work Hounslow’s support in helping Forest hire an apprentice and access government-funded training. He added:

“The process was seamless thanks to Deborah, the employer engagement coordinator. She guided us through every step – inviting us to the Council’s job fairs, sharing training provider options and explaining how the apprenticeship levy works. Even through we don’t qualifying for the apprenticeship levy as a small and medium-sized start up, Deborah helped us apply for a transfer so we could fund Khyle’s training.”

Julia encouraged employers, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to take the initiative in creating career paths for young people:

“We can work with local authorities to identify the right candidates for start-up environments. Young people may lack technical skills but they can bring valuable qualities like communication and adaptability, At Forest, we aim to create an inclusive culture. Our plan is to welcome people from diverse backgrounds, including women, ethnic minorities, individuals with disability and underprivileged groups.”

Work Hounslow is supporting employers in building inclusive workplace and investing in young people’s skills, helping them thrive in life. To find out how we can help your company fulfil the social value and Section 106 obligations, email work@hounslow.gov.uk

With the support from Work Hounslow, Iqra (pictured) and Rajni, both residents of Hounslow, met with their employment advisors every two weeks over a six-month period.

The employment support programme was funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Eligible residents aged 18 years old and over, who are unemployed and have the right to work in the UK, have received one-to-one, ongoing support to help them get into good work. Funding for the employment support programme concluded in March 2026.

“Finance can seem rigid and all about numbers, but Khyle brings great qualities to his role - attention to detail and a willingness to learn. On top of that, he has strong communication skills which are much harder to teach. He’s confident, chatty and builds great relationships across teams.”

Speaking about the benefits of fortnightly check-ins with the employment advisor, Iqra reflects with heartfelt appreciation, describing the support as immense.

“For me, working at Forest is life-changing. Everyone is friendly. It feels like a family. I don’t find it hard to connect with people. Being a people person is one of my best qualities. Plus, I love that I can cycle around Feltham and commute from Waterloo Station to the office.”

“When I met my advisor Melissa, I was keen on working right away. At the time, I was ready to do any job, work any hours, and was ready to discount my skills and years of training at the first place looking to hire. But in reality, I was burned-out and needed guidance on finding a job that was meaningful to me. Through our regular check-ins, and the brilliant guidance provided by Melissa, I was able to build my confidence and learn key skills on presenting myself and my work experience more effectively to employers.”

Iqra is now working part-time as a receptionist at a GP surgery and as a programme manager and facilitator at Mind Axis, a mental health organisation that supports young people living in the borough.

She added:

“Despite having a year-long gap in my CV, the support and encouragement from my advisor helped me overcome barriers and re-establish my career path. Having trained as a medical doctor abroad, I was afraid of being judged for stepping down and finding work as a GP-receptionist. But I can confidently say that this was the right choice. I have been learning tremendous transferrable skills and have been able to understand how the NHS works, which will help me should I decide to pursue medicine again someday."

Rajni, who is sixty years old, had been unemployed for two years. She was eager to find work but needed support. One day, while visiting Hounslow Library, she a library staff member told her about the regular community drop-in sessions.

She was deeply impressed by the support she received from her employment advisor, Natasha.

“Natasha really understands me and brings out the best in me. When we worked on preparing for job interviews, writing personal statement and completing applications, she showed me how to highlight my previous skills and work experience. Thanks to her encouragement, I became a Digital Champion volunteer at the Council, which I was able to talk about during my job interview.”

With Natasha’s support, Rajni, who is 60 years old, recently secured a job role in the public sector.

Velencia and Shehla (pictured, right to left), residents, have launched their careers within the NHS by enrolling in the Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeships programme at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, including West Middlesex University Hospital.

Work Hounslow has been working closely with employers and training providers to recruit local talents. Two years ago, the team partnered with the Trust and training provider Career Camp to identify local residents for an entry-level healthcare roles.

Shehla championed the 15-month programme as life-changing:

“I enjoyed the study both practical and theoretically learning. The other apprentices were friendly and supportive. We’ve become friends and still keep in touch.”

Velencia added:

‘The hospital’s apprenticeships team supported us from day one to our final assessments. They were always there to listen and help with challenges in both work and study. Even now, they continue to support me.’

Both were referred to the programme by their Work Hounslow employment advisors, Kam, who provided support throughout the application process and continued to check in even after they passed probation.

Velencia recalled:

'I needed university references from Ukraine for my apprenticeship applications and felt like giving up. But my advisor encouraged me to keep trying.'

Shehla said her advisor was friendly and supportive. The advisor regularly checked in with her, finding out how she’s doing and whether she enjoyed the course.

Since 2022, 40 residents have been recruited to work for the hospital through the apprenticeship route.

Paoline, a registered nurse by background and now Apprenticeships Programme Delivery Manager of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Healthcare Support Worker roles suit people with a passion and heart for caring. It’s not an easy work, but with the help from Work Hounslow and Career Camp, we’re able to find the right candidates. We also host sessions to explain the role, the apprenticeships and answer questions.”

Paoline added:

“We’ve had apprentices in their 50s and 60s, and others with backgrounds as plumbers or barristers. Their transferrable skills help them succeed.”

Velencia has now progressed to a Maternity Support Worker role and is studying to become a midwife through a degree apprenticeship. Shehla has graduated from the apprenticeships programme and is planning to apply for a nursing degree apprenticeship.

They both encourage unemployed residents interested in the healthcare sector to explore the apprenticeships programme.

Velencia said:

“It’s a free programme for eligible residents. You might feel like starting from scratch, but it’s never too late to study or change a career. Just go ahead - it’s worth it.”

Shehla added:

“You earn while you learn. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Despite the challenges of balancing work and caring responsibilities, Xu and Raina, residents in Hounslow, are dreaming big for their next steps. Their journeys have been made possible thanks to the unwavering support of their families and employers, along with professional career advice and support from Work Hounslow.

At a building site in Brentford, Xu has been working as a Site Administrator Trainee at Curo Construction ltd - since March 2025. Before that, she struggled to find a job, which she attributes to her extended career break to care for her child.

“I searched for jobs on the internet, but even junior roles required recent work experience. I hesitated to apply, thinking that I’d be rejected.”

Xu discussed her concerns with her employment advisor and found that professional support from Work Hounslow helped her overcome the barriers during her job search.

“With my advisor’s help, I included my career break and what I did during that time in my CV. She also encouraged me to look for volunteering opportunities to gain experience. We even practised mock interviews together, which really helped.”

Xu was very active in job searching. She attended a job roadshow at a Community Hub in the borough and participated in Work Hounslow’s Apprenticeship Marketplace Job Fair in February, where she met her future supervisor, Luke, from Curo. She also registered with Work Hounslow for ongoing career support, which led her to the trainee role.

Xu praises Work Hounslow’s job fairs:

“The job fair is a great way to meet with employers face-to-face. I got to know different companies and see if I’d be a good fit. Employers can also get to see if I match their needs. It’s a really good event.”

Raina, a mother of two children, has been working as a Contact Centre Advisor at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for about eight months. Previously, she worked in a school as Science Cover Supervisor and Teaching Assistant. She explains her motivation for the career change.

“I’ve always wanted to work for the NHS but didn’t know how to start. I want to work with ambitious people who are making a difference. Helping people is what I want to do in my career.”

She enjoys her current job, especially the positive feedback she receives from patients she helps with booking appointments and follow-ups.

Raina says her employment advisor has played a key role in her successful application:

“My advisor gave me great tips to tailor my CVs for NHS roles and helped me review my personal statement. She also shared training and volunteering opportunities. The mock interviews boosted my confidence – I used to get nervous. She reminded me that I have valuable experience and can overcome my fears. I’d definitely recommend Work Hounslow’s support. Just take the first step and meet with an advisor - they really help you achieve your goals.”

Read the full story here

Luke Rowland, Project Manager at Curo Construction, says the team supports the company to develop good connections with the community.

He remarks:

“Tim from Work Hounslow employer engagement team helped us hire a local resident for an administrative trainee role. He also connects us with local community organisations, like SPARK!, an organisation that supports young people into work, local high schools and West Thames College.”

Luke attended Work Hounslow’s Apprenticeship Marketplace Job Fair event in February where he met Xu - now working as the company’s Site Administrator trainee at its Brentford site. Curo Construction is currently building an industrial unit on a former site of the Firestone Factory in Brentford, which operated during the 1980s. The new building, comprising a warehouse and office spaces, will feature a modern interpretation of the Art Deco style, designed to complement the surrounding architecture.

Work Hounslow has been working M.I.T. Skills since 2012, offering training opportunities for unemployed residents to gain qualifications for careers in construction - a sector that consistently needs skilled workers.

Dr Hani Zubeidi, Director of Operations at M.I.T. Skills, praises Work Hounslow’s proactive approach:

“Tim not only ensures employers meet their legal obligations to hire a local residents, but also connects them with local schools, colleges, schools and community organisations to host events and meet social value targets within the Section 106.”

“The job fair is a great way to meet with employers face-to-face. I got to know different companies and see if I’d be a good fit. Employers can also get to see if I match their needs. It’s a really good event.”

Dr Zubeidi that around 30 unemployed residents are upskilled each month through the partnership with Work Hounslow and Hounslow Jobcentre Plus, under the Department. Once they qualified, they are ready to enter the growing construction industry.

Read the full story here

Clodagh Clarry, North West London Health and Social Care Skills Academy Lead (pictured, second from right), explains that revamping the recruitment and training strategies can help attract the right local talent.

Clodagh explains:

'We're facing challenges like staff shortages due to high turnover and low retention, as well as a lack of understanding about career opportunities in health and care. While we’d love to hire Allied Health Professionals, nurses and midwives, we're currently offering entry-level roles that serve as stepping stones to professional positions within the NHS.’

Work Hounslow has been working with the Academy to tackle these challenges. Funded by the Greater London Authority, the Academy began as a 'talent and recruitment hub’ pilot about three years ago. During the initial eight-week pilot, the Academy engaged over 20 residents. Since then, the number of people interested in the NHS opportunities as well as participation in online ‘explore and inform session’ and assessment days has steadily increased.

The Academy is now partnering with eight boroughs across northwest London. Clodagh adds:

‘Much of our focus has been on Hounslow because Work Hounslow has supported and partnered with the Academy since its launch.’

When asked about the benefits of the collaboration, Clodagh notes:

“Both the Academy and Work Hounslow share a common vision and priorities. We aim to build a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Work Hounslow has the reach and ability to engage residents that we might not otherwise connect with. This is invaluable, as it allows us to focus on opening up opportunities and addressing the barriers that hinder inclusive recruitment.”

Clodagh also praises the support from Tej, Employer Engagement Coordinator and the team, who help identify and engage individuals with the right skills, mindset and passion to pursue careers in the NHS.

Work Hounslow collaborates with the Academy at every stage of the recruitment process, ensuring the candidates are prepared and positioned for success. Tej gathers job requirements from the Academy and works with the employment advisors to ensure that registered users of Work Hounslow are ready to be put forward for the roles.

Looking ahead, Clodagh highlights the importance of continuing this partnership:

“Whether or not future funding is available, we want to maintain our relationships. The support, commitment and enthusiasm from Work Hounslow have been exceptional. We're united in our mission to find local talent to serve the community and deliver excellent patient care.”

Read the full story here

Kamil Staszczak, Senior Relationship Manager at Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy, part of Heathrow, states that Work Hounslow is highly active in supporting local residents into employment at the Airport.

Work Hounslow helps raising awareness of the Academy’s work, career opportunities and referring Hounslow residents to attend Academy’s Employability and Essential Skills workshops or to meet career advisors. The team has helped maintain a high standard of applicants.

The partnership between Work Hounslow and the Academy began in 2020, as part of the airport’s recovery efforts following the pandemic.

Kamil recalls:

“At that time, we worked together to recruit Hounslow residents into security job opportunities at the Airport. We’ve built a fantastic partnership. Through Work Hounslow, the Academy benefits, not only reaching local residents but also from helping the residents to understand the requirements of working at the Airport.”

The Academy also participates in Work Hounslow’s job fairs every year, including the event in February 2025 during National Apprenticeship Week.

Looking ahead, Kamil said the Academy will continue to collaborate with Work Hounslow to tackle skills gaps:

“There is a huge potential for us to collaborate, particularly in helping young people develop the skills they need. Over the past couple of years, possibly due to the pandemic, we’ve observed that many young people lack the confidence necessary to communicate effectively with passengers. Additionally, we are seeking talent in engineering, data analytics, and construction to ensure we have the right team to support the airport’s future development.”

Read the full story here

Name:Madhavi

Current job position: Contact Centre Advisor at the NHS

Feeling stressed and almost losing hope of finding a job, Madhavi, who moved to the UK from India two years ago, recalled how excited she was when she informed her employment advisor from Work Hounslow about securing a Contact Centre Advisor job in the maternity department at the NHS.

Madhavi said:

“The regular catch-ups with Kam, my employment advisor, including in-person meetings, phone calls or even online sessions every two week, were impactful. She understood my past work experience and saw where I would fit best in different job roles.”

She added:

“My employment advisor worked with me on my CV to tailor it to the job requirements and guided me in answering questions about the essential and desirable skills in the application. She also helped me reflect on my previous experience as a human resource professional in India and motivated me to keep trying. With Kam’s help, I was able to find out the skills and experience relevant to the NHS job role, which involves helping people, understanding their concerns and offering solutions.”

“I want everyone in the borough to know about Work Hounslow’s support so they can feel motivated to get the help they need. Don’t lost hope. Things can work out for sure.”

Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Work Hounslow, the Council’s Skills and Employment Team, delivers a six-month programme providing one-to-one careers and employment support for residents who are currently unemployed. 90 residents have been registered with the team, empowering them to find good work that pays at least the London Living Wage and building confidence.

Recruiting a candidate from Hounslow to join the Engagement team at Karakusevic Carson Architects, based in Hackney, could have been challenging. However, with Work Hounslow’s local talent pool and tailored recruitment support, the team now has Aruna, a resident, as a temporary Programme Assistant.

The company has been working with the Council for the past six months on a social housing project in Brentford Lock West.

In late 2024, the company started recruiting a Programme Assistant to support the project. The nine-week role, running from February to April 2025, was specifically aimed at long-term unemployed residents looking to return to work.

Morgan, Engagement and Community Coordinator at Karakusevic Carson Architects, highlights the valuable assistance provided by Work Hounslow’s employer engagement team in filling the role:

“Work Hounslow has been incredibly supportive, helping us make the best use of our time when seeking the appropriate candidate and freeing us to focus on our current project work. The most beneficial part of this partnership is their network of job seekers in Hounslow. They tailored the job role for us, promoted it through their communications platform and used their system to select candidates with the right skills and experience.”

Read the full story here

Name: Laura

Current job position: Countryside Ranger – Volunteering in Parks, Lampton 360 Greenspace

Laura has been retrained in Practical Countryside Habitat Management and Ecology for two years. Before she engaged with Work Hounslow, she looked for her first job as a Countryside Ranger, had several job interviews but no job offers.

'I had a several meetings with Work Hounslow’s employment advisor who has been really friendly and helpful. The support was first rate. The advisor got to know me and understood what I was looking for and gave me lots of support and encouraged me to join the Green Skills Bootcamp.

Sometimes when you’re trying to break into a new industry and get your first job it can feel daunting and isolating. This bootcamp removed that feeling and provided the encouraging environment to get through it with a team and to finally secure the job I was looking for.

I loved the two weeks of training from Patrick at Maydencroft Ltd. He has spent a lifetime in the Green Skills sector and had some brilliant stories, and was very patient, funny and encouraging.

The bootcamp helped my confidence – I realised that I had the ecology knowledge and habitat management experience to be applying for the jobs I wanted – that I deserved to be in the room.

Also, the classroom training like the Oak Processionary Moth training and the Health and Safety Training on working at height and near water was fascinating, and a lot of it was new for me. The content was very considered, common sense and practical and it helped me a lot to then go on and pass my CSCS Health and Safety courses the following week, so I can work on construction sites.’

Name: Olga Dudnik

Current job position: Ukraine Volunteering and Engagement Coordinator at Ealing and Hounslow Community and Voluntary Service

Olga resettled in the UK from Ukraine under the government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme in May 2022 and moved to Hounslow.

Despite moving to a new country, she continued working remotely for an energy company DTEK in Ukraine as a senior manager in the education and technology division. Every day, she spent up to eight hours on conference calls with her colleagues, but she felt she was missing out on integrating into UK culture.

‘I was working remotely and felt isolated. I appreciated Leonie, my employment advisor, for her advice on volunteering, as I have been involved in volunteering all my life and enjoy contributing to the community.

I chose the ‘Walk and Talk’ project after meeting with staff from Ealing and Hounslow Community and Voluntary Service (EHCVS). They introduced me to various projects, and I decided to lead this one because I love walking, nature, and it was a great opportunity to practise my English in a multicultural environment. In November 2022, my group had six people from two different countries. By September 2023, it had grown to 80 people from nine countries.

I frequently sought advice from my employment advisor. When a vacancy opened at EHCVS for a project developing a support network for Ukrainian infrastructure, she helped me prepare for my first interview. She guided me when I received the first job offer from EHCVS.

I successfully developed the Ukrainian Project to the point where I was offered a full-time contract, and once again, my employment advisor helped me with a difficult decision to leave my job in Ukraine. We also discussed the pathways for advancing my career here in the UK.

Having a professional like Leonie to support, advise, and guide you in the right direction is invaluable.’

In addition, Olga made significant progress in her English language skills by attending courses such as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Functional Skills Entry Level 2 at Learn Hounslow, a provider of adult and community Education for Hounslow residents.

Willmott Dixon, the UK’s leading property builder and contractor, has been a Disability Confident Employer. .

Martine Corbett, Senior Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon, said construction has an array of job opportunities for Hounslow residents who may face barriers to employment, allowing them to build their careers within the sector. She said:

‘More often than not, people overlook the fact that careers in the construction sector are incredibly diverse. Typically, people’s perceptions and media portrayal lead to the assumption that the sector is only about trades, however there are over 150 roles in construction. From support roles such as human resources, marketing, health and safety, finance, social value and sustainability, through to pre-construction roles including estimating, planning, design, digital engineering, bid submissions, quantity surveying and then roles out on site, which include roles within our supply chain, these are the roles that are more often considered when thinking of careers in construction.

The company run many programmes to support people facing barriers to work into sustainable careers. Work experience and enrichment programme are delivered to students attending a wide range of schools and colleges and this includes SEND schools.

The Willmott Dixon Building Lives Academy offers work experience, training and qualifications to adults that may have been long term unemployed and to young people that may not be in employment, education or training.

The company has also organised affinity groups, which includes a disability affinity group, where staff can share their voices to improve general awareness of disability issues and to ensure that staff of all backgrounds and abilities have the right tools to succeed at work.

As a disability confident employer, we encourage everyone to think differently about disability and take action to improve how we recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities. The Disability Confident scheme can support employers to break down barriers and challenges of disability, enabling them to make the most of the talents of people, including disabled people.

Employers must create an environment where difference is embraced, inclusion and diversity to enhance the workplace, creating an environment where individuals from all backgrounds and abilities can develop their potential and thrive.’

Read the full story of Willmott Dixon and its participation in Hounslow Council’s event to celebrate United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2023 here

Video link: https://youtu.be/-ciA2zN_vUQ

AJAR Technology based in Brentford, is an international system integrator specialising in physical security, audio, visual and specialised integrated solutions for public sector and private businesses. The company has been recruiting young people and experienced professionals across the country to join their apprenticeships programmes.

Tara, Sales and Marketing Manager, shared some advice for employers who are considering hiring apprentices:

‘As a result of the pandemic, employers are worried that young people who have been learning remotely might not feel confident to come straight to workplace or might prefer not to work around with other people.

Employers can manage expectations with apprentices, explaining what the role would look like and what would suit for the apprentice and your business. If you are an SME or a small business, you can involve apprentices in all sorts of things. Young people would know way more about technology and different types of communications than older generations. We all start somewhere. None of us are born knowing everything. Employers who want to build their businesses cannot do it on their own.”

Tara emphasised that apprentices could enhance business operations and respond to clients’ needs efficiently.

One of the engineer apprentices, Alex, has completed the programme in September 2023. He has now taken up a senior commissioning engineer role and has recently completed a project for a client in Amsterdam.

Apart from apprenticeships, the company has organised T-Level placements and work experiences for students. They want to encourage more young people to learn more about the sector and the different career options and goals associated with it.

Read the full story of AJAR Technology's apprenticeship programme here