Work Ready has been a life-changing experience for Ken Holmes.
After decades of temporary contracts, he now has a permanent full-time role with Altrad that provides job satisfaction, additional skills and career prospects.
Ken was among the 12 learners who completed a 16-week Work Ready programme at Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA) in December 2024.
At the end of the programme, he was offered a job with Altrad at the Culham Campus, a Fusion Research Centre.
Altrad is a leading provider of infrastructure services. It provides support services at several UK nuclear facilities, including the Culham Campus. This includes a year-round, core site team to support the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s fusion research and technology programme.
Pictured above: Ken (left) in the workshop with fellow Work Ready learner.
Breaking the cycle of temporary contracts
Originally from Birmingham. Ken (49) has done a variety of jobs, including operating machinery such as cranes and forklifts and laying fibre-optic cables.
Most recently he worked on a farm operating forklifts to change over silos, bagging up and stacking seeds.
“When the contract ended, I spoke to the advisers at the Job Centre – they told me about this programme. I thought I would take the chance and move. I knew it would make me more employable at the end.
“The programme gives you the fundamentals. You then have skills that enable you to branch off and specialise in a specific area.
“There was real camaraderie in our group. People came from all walks of life and gelled together during the programme. I still see many of the group on site at Culham, and we often work together on the projects.”
Pictured: Ken (right) with his certificates on the final day of the Work Ready programme
I wish I’d got into this industry before
Culham Campus is a leading facility for fusion energy research. The Materials Research Facility, based at Culham, prepares and examines radioactive materials for research in both fission and fusion.
“I am on installation and decommissioning right now. I’m getting hands-on experience with hot work and learning a lot.
“I wish I’d got into this industry before.”
Work Ready: Giving confidence to start a career
“I was brought up in Birmingham. Everyone around me had low-end jobs. When I moved away from the city, I started working on machinery. I was always good with my hands – more practical than academic. I didn’t think I was ever good enough to be a mechanic.
“I’ve seen how Work Ready gives people who don’t have a job a new lease of life.
“You can start a career from what you have learned. It gives you confidence to see what’s out there.”
About Work Ready
Work Ready offers people who are not in employment, education or training or who are leaving the Armed Forces, the opportunity to gain recognised industry skills and accredited qualifications as well as a guaranteed job interview at the end.
On successful completion of the course, learners gain a Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations and a CCNSG Safety Passport together with a foundation level of skills and knowledge in manual handling, handheld and abrasive wheels, working in low-risk confined spaces, working at height and working safely with hand and power tools and equipment.
There is also employability skills training within the programme, such as using devices and handling information, creating and editing documents and spreadsheets, digital communication, correspondence and presentations and online safety.
Find out more about the Work Ready programme
