CAREERS AND SKILLS
Megan Walsh
Jobs : When WEST is best
“ It has made a huge difference for me ,” said Megan Walsh , who has gained her first step on a career ladder through an Ealing Council scheme called WEST that helps unemployed people into jobs and training .
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Megan , 19 , is from South Ealing and had been out of work for months when she approached WEST ( which stands for work , education , support and training ).
WEST has helped more than 100 local people into jobs or training since it was set up by the council in 2015 , with the support of the Mayor of London .
Through WEST ’ s personalised , oneto-one advice and support , Megan gained confidence and interview skills . She was also helped in a job search which led to Ealing , Hammersmith and West London ’ s College , where she is now an apprentice administrator .
‘ TOLD I HAD NO EXPERIENCE ’ “ Not only has WEST got me an apprenticeship , it has got me in to an
around ealing Spring 2017 apprenticeship that I ’ m thoroughly enjoying and that I would not have been able to find on my own ,” said Megan .
“ It had been difficult for me to find work because the adverts for jobs I thought
Megan Walsh outside Hammersmith and West London College would be suitable were misleading and , when I got an interview , I was told I didn ’ t have enough experience .
“ Once I have completed training I would like to progress to having a full-time administrator job and I ’ d recommend WEST to anyone . I ’ m still receiving support from my WEST mentor now .”
‘ MADE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE ’ Balvinder Chavda of Greenford got advice , support and a Level 3 Award in childcare and education after getting in touch with WEST – and has since found a job . She had been unemployed for 15 months .
She said : “ WEST has made a massive difference to my career . It made me realise that with my employment experience I had the skill set for jobs I was applying for but I also