Jay’s story: employment support can change someone’s future

There can be moments in life when the world feels stacked against you. Times when the weight of uncertainty and exhaustion makes giving up seem like the only option.

Jay* knows that feeling all too well. When he arrived in Cardiff in 2023, Jay did not know what the future would hold for him and his family. He had never heard of Wales and knew nothing of the place where he hoped to find safety for his family.

And at first, it felt like this would be a straightforward path to rebuild Jay family’s future. He had been an engineer in Hong Kong for eight years and carried the experiences that would prepare him for employment in the UK. Starting again would be a challenge, but Jay’s extensive knowledge of project management, designing plans, and the plumbing industry would help him find a job in their new home.

Early on, Jay discovered his qualifications would not be recognised in a UK engineering market. He swiftly enrolled in a plumbing and heating diploma at Cardiff and Vale College.

For two years he committed to this intensive course, juggling study with family responsibilities and work as a delivery driver. Every day demanded more from Jay and his family: while Jay and his wife swapped shifts at work with childcare responsibilities at home. Together they persevered the pressures knowing they had each other’s support.

While Jay was familiar with the content of the plumbing and heating course, he encountered something unexpected: a huge language barrier.

Jay was confident chatting in English to his new neighbours and friends, but hadn’t expected such a challenge studying in this new language. Every assignment, every deadline was made all the more stressful as Jay adapted to communicate in a language he was still exploring. The pressure was building on Jay quietly but steadily, until one thought began to surface in his thoughts as he felt the weight of his circumstances,

“I wanted to give up,” Jay said.

It’s a feeling many people experience but rarely talk about. That one moment where continuing feels harder than stopping.

But Jay didn’t give up. Step by step, and assignment by assignment, Jay pushed through. He completed the course and earned his certificate. This was a hard-won achievement that represented far more than a qualification. It was proof of Jay’s resilience.

After applying for 20 jobs, Jay was only invited to two interviews. He took on freelance plumbing jobs, worked night shifts, and continued with the delivery driving. Jay was doing whatever he needed to move forward for his family, but he was only able to take each day at a time.

That’s when he knew something had to change. Jay heard about the Welsh Refugee Council from a friend, who knew there was an employability programme to prepare people for work and education. Jay made an appointment with the team, who listened to his story and offered support tailored to his needs. The team invited Jay to their next engineering site visit and practised interview techniques so that Jay could help prepare when applying for his next role. For the first time in a long time, Jay felt like he wasn’t navigating everything alone.

And then Jay secured another interview, and this time, he got the job. Jay continues to take every opportunity to learn something new in his job and is still thinking about what the future will hold for him and his family.

Jay’s story shows with the right support, at the right time, even the hardest journeys can lead somewhere hopeful.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the employability programme, or if your business is interested in supporting refugee employment, get in touch with us today.

* Name has been changed to protect this person’s identity.