When Micah Rees decided to switch career paths, Leicester College helped him get the necessary skills he needed with its Leicester City Council Neighbourhood Improvement Sector Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP).

Having previously worked as a carer, Micah decided to re-enter further education and change his career path, pursuing an interest he had in gardens. “I’d laid some artificial grass at my property which gave me a taste of ground working, and I thought I’d be a good fit with Leicester City Council’s Neighbourhood Improvement Operative (NIO) team with garden clearances.

“I chose Leicester College because it was the only college to offer this type of course. The SWAP gave me the opportunity to earn nationally recognised qualifications such as Health and Safety, as well as a Green CSCS card.”

The six-week long SWAP provides a pathway towards a 12-month contract with Leicester City Council and includes a variety of learning activities such as supported online learning, classroom teaching and practical demonstrations to help students achieve a range of qualifications.

“The course was great and really lifted my confidence,” Micah says. “It helped me boost my CV and gave me a path to focus on for my future. I also practiced my interview skills to help prepare me for work, and was able to improve my English and maths.”

Micah felt that the course gave him the confidence to apply for a job as a ground worker with the City Council and he’s now worked his way up to driver/labourer supervisor. He hopes to become a manager in the future.

“I’m really glad that I went back to college and learnt the skills I needed to change my career path. I think if an employer sees that you have made efforts with learning, there’s a better chance of them taking you seriously.

“I would definitely recommend Leicester College because the staff are so kind and supportive. To anyone who wants to learn new skills or switch careers, I say go for it – it’s never too late to learn new things.”