Project helped Daryl join the world of work
8:58am Friday 18th February 2011 in Business News
A work skills project between O2 Bury and Bolton Lads and Girls Club has fulfilled one young person’s dream of entering the world of work and starting his journey up the career ladder.
After almost giving up hope of ever finding a permanent job, 20-year-old Daryl Hosker has just started work as a fully trained customer service advisor at O2 Bury.
And the Deane resident says he owes it all to the cooperation between O2 and the Club, where he is an ambassador.
The club’s enterprise team provides career pathways for young people, helping them acquire the skills needed to find work.
Having seen how young people can sometimes struggle with telephone skills when contacting prospective employers, the Club asked O2’s Customer Service Centre in Dumers Lane, Bury, if it would help club members acquire these skills.
O2 was delighted to help, as part of its Think Big project aimed at helping young people in the UK between the ages of 14 and 25.
Martin S p i n k , O2 learning and development specialist, said: “The aim is to be involved in projects that will make a difference in the community and this was just the sort of project we had in mind.”
One of the group selected to take part in the project was Daryl Hosker who was beginning to give up hope of ever having a job.
He had nine good GCSE passes on leaving school in 2007. He then went on to sixth form college to qualify as a sports coach, gaining diplomas which were the equivalent of A-levels.
But still he couldn’t get a permanent job.
“I was applying for job after job without success.
Most times I didn’t even get an acknowledgement of my application.
“Just being ignored makes you lose all motivation and lowers your self worth. You think ‘why try?’”
Daryl and the group spent five weeks at O2 in Dumers Lane. They all impressed staff with their passion to develop their skills and Daryl made such an impression that he was encouraged to apply for a full time position that was being advertised to train as a customer service advisor.
But just when Daryl was due to start, his elation turned to despair when he was rushed to hospital with what turned out to be kidney failure.
Darly has had kidney problems since childhood, was told he would soon need a kidney transplant and his mother has proved to be the ideal donor for the procedure later this year.
But even that setback couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm for his new job opportunity.
Following dialysis, he was finally able to take up O2’s job offer. Daryl said: “I can’t believe how things have changed. I feel the world of work has opened up to me now and the only way is forward.”
