After leaving university with a degree in Creative Music and Sound Technology, Daniel Atkinson, 23, was looking forward to a glittering career in the music industry. One year later, he was struggling on benefits, unable to find a permanent job in his chosen industry local to his home in Grantham. Today, with help from TNG, a national welfare to work training provider in The George Centre, Grantham, he is back in work, enjoying his new career as a television and film engineer.

Daniel left Leeds Metropolitan University in 2009 and began working as a music producer on a freelance basis, but this soon dried up. He continued searching for permanent work while playing the occasional gig with his band, Violet Wand, but living in a rural area and being unable to drive, he found his job opportunities were very limited.

In June 2010, Daniel sought help to find work from TNG. While at TNG, he was assigned to a Placement Officer who helped him improve his telephone and interview techniques, as well as helping to improve his confidence through team building exercises.

In order to help Daniel maintain a work-like routine, gain new skills and experience, TNG found a work placement for Daniel at CWM Studio in Grantham, which owns TV and web radio studios and produces documentaries, TV shows, websites and radio programmes.

Daniel embraced the opportunity to get hands-on experience in an industry he was passionate about, and using confidence techniques learned at TNG, threw himself into the placement. After 13 weeks, Daniel had made himself indispensible and the manager of the studio offered him a full time job as a studio engineer.

Daniel is relishing his new career, and said, "I'm really enjoying working here, learning about camera work and film editing; it's a vast industry and I'm learning all the time. Without TNG's support, I would never have had the opportunity to do a placement here, learn more about the industry and importantly, prove to the manager what a great member of the team I could be.

"I'm grateful for all the help from TNG, and after struggling to get by on benefits, I'm looking forward to a Christmas and New Year I can enjoy."

Amanda Billett, placement Officer at TNG,  commented on Daniel's success, "Daniel was clearly talented and passionate, he just needed his 'lucky break'. We helped him to build his confidence prior to finding him a suitable placement so he could really get the most out of the whole experience. Who knows, maybe one day he'll be expert enough to rival the likes of Steven Spielberg in the film world!"