After 18 months of unemployment Paul Weaver, 46, from Birkenhead turned his life around through education. TNG, a national welfare to work training provider, with an office in Price Street, supported Paul in his job search whilst encouraging him to enhance his education, by studying for his City and Guild’s Adult Literature qualification, something that he was keen to do.

Paul#’s confidence and employment prospects greatly improved after he gained his qualification, resulting in a six month work placement, as a factory/production worker, with a Wirral based company, ABC Together. ABC Together aims to educate and raise awareness of the benefits of recycling across Merseyside, by recycling cardboard and turning it into animal bedding for resale.

At the end of the six months, Paul's employers encouraged him to apply for full time position as a recycling operative/drivers mate and he was successful in securing the job. Since working at ABC Together, Paul has completed a Level 2 NVQ in Manufacturing Operations and is currently working towards an NVQ in Recycling. He also hopes to expand his skills set further by completing courses including Health and Safety and First Aid Training in the workplace.

Commenting on the progress made by Paul, Jane Brade, TNG Area Manager said: "Being unemployed for 18 months had a detrimental effect on Paul’s confidence. Prior to joining TNG, Paul had worked as a Security Guard as well as undertaking numerous volunteer roles, including teaching sign language. His commitment to finding work and his willingness to learn were the key factors in his success in finding employment. It also proves that it's never too late to learn."

Speaking about his TNG experience, Paul commented: "I've been bitten by the learning bug, I wasn’t particularly academic at school, but at the age of 46 I have finally seen the benefit of education. This was greatly helped by the continuous support of John, my adviser at TNG, who advised me and encouraged me to do the best I can. I'm now in full time employment in a role that I really enjoy, and to top it all, I’m doing something that has a positive impact in the environment."