Aspire scheme

If you have a disability and are finding it difficult to gain work experience or work based training, we are able to offer short or long-term placements in the Council. This can range from a couple of hours per week to a full time paid traineeship for nine months.

Case Studies

Please see below the thoughts from candidates who are on our nine month paid Aspire Scheme:

Mohammed Meharban

Hi, my name is Mohammed. I am on the Aspire Scheme and I am partially deaf and have a speech impediment. Before I applied for this scheme I was working in a processing centre, which was not what I wanted to do as I wanted to work in finance/ accountancy.  All of the jobs I applied for were unsuitable for me, as I am unable to use the telephone or work in a customer based environment, because of my disability.  I was also told I needed more  experience.  I had been looking for finance/ accountancy job for two to three years before I joined the Aspire Scheme.

This scheme allowed me to gain experience in finance and also allowed me to demonstrate my finance skills in the workplace, without my disability holding me back, as the job was adjusted to suit me.

Right now I am doing very well in my job and I am having no problems doing the work set for me. I have received praise from my manger and have been told that I have the ability to progress my career, which I am very happy to hear.

So I am very happy to have joined this Aspire Scheme, as for the first time I see a good career ahead for me, the stability it will bring me financially and the independence it will give me.

James Bradley

I'm James Bradley and I'm currently employed in City Services, through the Aspire Scheme.  Prior to my being taken on, after a successful three-month placement within City Services, I had been unemployed for four years.  In that time, I had had quite a number of interviews for jobs and all of them ended without me getting a job.  Because I have Asperger Syndrome, I am at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to performing in an interview. With the help of the Employment Support Service and the Aspire Scheme, however, I secured my placement on the scheme.

In the short time that I have been on the Aspire Scheme, my language skills have been used to their fullest.  These skills have been of benefit to the division in welcoming French students to our office, and even to the Lord Mayor's Office.  I work with very kind and professional colleagues, whom I hold in the highest regard.  None of all that I have achieved would have been possible without the Aspire Scheme, my managers and the Employment Support Service. I would recommend it to anyone, whose disability is a barrier to their obtaining meaningful employment.