ATS Website Success Stories

David from ATS Palmers Green:

David was a Full Time Education and Training customer who, initially, demonstrated his hostility towards attending the course by voicing his opinion that it was “all a waste of time”. It soon became apparent that this was based upon the lack of advice and guidance he had previously become accustomed to. However, once he had been persuaded to agree to give ATS the chance to prove him wrong, he quickly realised that the help he needed, and deserved, was freely available on the course.

After completing his induction paperwork in the first week it was revealed, during his ILP, that he was a self-taught expert motorcycle maintenance engineer. There was nothing about motorbikes that David did not know - he could dismantle and re-assemble one without diagrams!

He was informed that it would be possible for him to enrol on a Motorcycle Maintenance course which would provide him with the necessary qualifications to forge a career in the industry and he promptly did the research and found such a course within the area and enrolled on it.

Further to this, he was also urged to secure a work-experience position which would enable him to enter into the work-place routine, maintain and improve his skills, acquire a current source of reference, and enjoy working at something he had always dreamed of.

Through ATS David managed to secure a placement at Halfords (cycles) and proved to be such a model employee that he was offered a part-time position there which should prove to be invaluable when he begins his college course.

Stephen from ATS Palmers Green:

Stephen had been unemployed for over two years and had previously wandered from job to job without any forward planning as to a suitable career. After two or three weeks it became apparent that he genuinely wanted to combine working in the Service Industry and contributing towards the community in general. He remembered that one of the trainers had previously worked for the Home Office, in a training capacity, and Stephen expressed an interest in doing something similar.

An ATS trainer gave him all the advice and guidance he needed to enter this field and went one step further by introducing him to his previous employer as a very good prospect. After coaching on interview techniques an interview followed at which he did exceptionally well and, after a long and nervous wait, he learned that he had been successful and was offered a position as a Field Monitoring Officer at Serco subject to passing a three-week residential training course.

The trainer coached Stephen on what to expect on the course and helped give him the benefit of his own experience in order to pass the course. This proved to be so beneficial that Stephen did pass- with flying colours.

Stephen has now been working there for more than six months and believes he has found his true vocation.

Brunilda from ATS Palmers Green:

Brunilda came to ATS as a Basic Skills customer, due to spend up to six months improving her Literacy and Numeracy skills. She quickly demonstrated that she was a driven individual with a real desire to enter employment. She forged through to City & Guilds Level 2 and acquired her Level 2 certificates in Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy. At the same time, after many consultations with her Basic Skills tutor, she revealed that she was determined to secure a career within the adult teaching profession and was granted a work-experience position at ATS itself.

Brunilda became a valuable member of the team at ATS and her determination, attitude and character proved to be some of the many attributes she had which contributed towards her landing ‘in her own words’ her ‘dream job’ as a Classroom Assistant with the prospect of furthering herself in her chosen career.

Angela from ATS Tonbridge:

Angela attended her Mandatory Work Related Activity (Part of the Flexible New Deal Programme) with ATS in Tonbridge. Amanda enjoyed the MWRA, getting fully involved with tasks and other employability activities. Throwing herself wholeheartedly into an intensive job search, with the specialist guidance and support of the employment advisors, which resulted in her gaining employment with Marks and Spencer.

Royston from ATS Tonbridge:

When Royston started on Flexible New Deal with ATS, he felt that he was going nowhere and lacked the confidence needed to take the next step into employment. After attending his induction and regular reviews with his employment advisor, Royston’s confidence and motivation returned resulting in a part time evening job. With the assistance of his advisors he then went on to secure an interview for a role, as a Care Worker, which he had not previously considered and was delighted to secure a full time position. Royston is now looking forward to a brighter and more fulfilling future in employment.

Matthew from ATS Tonbridge:

Matthew started with ATS on the Employability Skills Programme and gained qualifications in both Literacy and Numeracy. Matthew then came back to ATS under Flexible New Deal where he was pleased to discover that we were able to offer training in security to enable customers to gain their SIA licence. Matthew decided that this would be a good career path to take and having attended the course he passed his exam and is now delighted to be working for G4S security. Matthew is now looking forward to a more secure and certain future with prospects for advancement in his new found career.

Keith from ATS Maidstone:

Keith was very nervous about attending ATS due to his Literacy/ Numeracy skills. His Initial Assessment scores were Entry Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy. Keith was persuaded that a Mandatory Work Related Activity in the basic skills training room would be of benefit to him so he reluctantly agreed to attend. After four weeks Keith had passed Entry Level 3 Numeracy, learned how to use the computer to be able to take the exam and was extremely proud that it was "the first thing he had ever passed at his age (50 years) and he had given up in the past, but we had made him realise there was much more to him and he now feels much more confident in his capabilities". We have noticed a huge difference in Keith and he willingly attends ATS more often than required to search for work. Keith is now able to complete application forms with minimal help from staff.

Nathan from ATS Maidstone:

Nathan came for his Initial Assessment with ATS and said that he already had started a voluntary placement with London Advisory Service Alliance (LASA) in London and now he had been referred to ATS he would need to leave the placement due to travel costs. ATS was able to offer help with travel costs and encouraged Nathan to complete his training with the company. Nathan has now telephoned to say he is pleased that he continued as he had been offered a permanent, paid position with them to start in September, which will be a position that Nathan has worked towards since gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamics and his Degree in Journalism. Nathan originally thought that ATS may hinder his career goals due to above considerations but was glad this proved to be the opposite.