SWAP course paves the way to employment

After the café in which he worked closed down, 44 year-old David Brown went onto Universal Credit and spent his days looking for new employment.

He was with Jobs 22 - part of the Department of Work and Pensions Restart Scheme – and to help him to find work, the Jobcentre recommended Leicester College to David. He got a leaflet about the Leicester City Council Neighbourhood Improvement Sector Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) level 1 course and applied.

David later discovered that 70 people went for the course and he was one of 33 that successfully got a place.

New qualification secures interview and job

“Leicester College trained for us for everything,” David says. “The work experience with Leicester City Council was a bonus and it was good experience all round.

“I live with dyslexia so found the exams quite nerve wracking. The College supported me amazingly and got a reader in to help me. I consequently passed all 21 exams!

“Following the course, I managed to get a competitive interview with Leicester City Council and didn’t think that I’d get the job, but I did!

“I would 100% recommend the course – the qualifications look good on my CV, I got a CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) UK-based ID card and the job is a real bonus.”