Self employed taxi driver secure new role during COVID-19

Why did Michael join Fair Start Scotland?

Michael worked as a self-employed taxi driver for most of his life. When the whole of UK went into lockdown due to the pandemic, Michael’s job was in jeopardy as he relied on the streets being busy to make a living.

Soon into the lockdown, Michael went from having regular customers to have none and this affected him financially. Michael joined the service for help with finding stable work and move away from being self-employed.

How did Fair Start Scotland help?

Michael met Katie, personal adviser from Ayr over the phone. Michael voiced his worries about being unsure on what he would like to do, he had spent many years being a taxi driver.

Katie helped Michael create a CV and identified his transferable skills. Michael knew he enjoyed meeting and speaking to new people, so Katie started looking for roles in within customer service. With the new CV, Katie worked with our employer services consultant, Lauren who found a role in a call centre that she though Michael would be great in.

Getting the job

Michael secured an interview with the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) call centre and he was successful in securing the role. Michael was very happy, but he then became nervous as he wasn’t confident with this computer knowledge. Katie and Lauren were able to organise training for him with his new employer and they also referred him to our Computer Skills workshop.

Michael is now working with BPO and is enjoying his job. He hopes to move onto a permanent contract once his probation is over and he knows he can do well in similar roles. He has now set this as his long-term career goal.

Michael is grateful for all the help and support he received from the very start of his journey.

He said; ‘I want to say thank you to Siobohann from engagement, Lauren from employer service and my personal adviser Katie as I did not know there was a service like this out there and cannot believe how helpful each person in the business was. I am overwhelmed by the kindness and support I received’