Sonal Secures Her First UK Job with Support from Grow

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Sonal lives in Hayes and joined Grow after moving to the UK from India. With a strong academic background, including a Master’s degree and PhD, and previous experience working as an Assistant Professor in a college in India, Sonal was keen to rebuild her career in education after taking time out of work to care for her child. However, arriving in a new country and trying to understand the UK job market proved challenging.

Sonal said:

“When I came to Grow, I was not aware of the UK job market and I was struggling to find the correct way to apply for jobs. I didn’t know the right platforms to use or what the requirements were to find a job in the UK because I was new here.”

“I also had a long career break, really a seven-year gap, so Grow helped me to gain motivation again and supported me to gain the confidence to restart my career journey.”

Sonal first heard about Grow through a friend who was already connected with the programme. Since joining Grow, Sonal has attended online sessions covering CV writing, interview preparation, motivation and understanding the UK workplace.

“I attended lots of seminars, online courses and sessions about how to make a CV, how to present yourself in interviews, what kind of jobs are available in the market and how you can start your journey again.”
Grow also encouraged Sonal to complete a Level 2 course in Understanding Support Work in Schools and Colleges through Learn Hillingdon while she was searching for work.

“Although I already had qualifications from my country, I was totally new to the UK education system and didn’t know how things worked here. From the course I also learned about British values, safeguarding and many more things.”

Sonal also attended Grow interview preparation sessions, which she says helped her feel more prepared and professional during interviews.

“I learned how to introduce myself by doing mock interviews with Grow, how to present myself and what I should and shouldn’t say during interviews.”

With support from Grow, Sonal began applying for jobs through platforms including LinkedIn and Indeed and gradually became more confident applying for education-based roles.

“Before joining Grow, I had applied for many jobs through Indeed but I didn’t get anything. After joining Grow, especially after doing the course from Learn Hillingdon, I became more confident applying for roles in schools and colleges because I always wanted to work in the education sector and I felt better prepared.”
After a year out of work in the UK, Sonal has now secured a role as an Associate Lecturer at the London Academy for Applied Technology.

“It has been almost a year looking for work, so this is a big achievement for me. This will be my first job in the UK. I am happy I joined Grow as they really helped me to regain my confidence again and help give me the advice and guidance I needed.”

Anjali Builds Confidence Using AI Safely

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Anjali joined a resilience-building programme at the Peepul Centre in Leicester as part of her journey towards rebuilding confidence and moving forward positively. As part of the programme, participants were invited to attend a one-day Grow Digital AI workshop delivered by Grow Employment Adviser, Kaneez Fatima MIEP.

Unlike some participants, Anjali had already used AI tools before attending the session. She regularly used Gemini on her Samsung phone and described how she would often “talk to Gemini like a friend.” However, despite already feeling comfortable using AI, the workshop helped her understand how to use it more safely and effectively.

“One of the most helpful things I learned was not to share personal details like your birth date or private information with AI,” Anjali explained. “Before the workshop, I didn’t realise that. It really helped me understand how to use AI safely.”

The workshop also gave Anjali a better understanding of how prompts work and how giving clearer instructions can improve the quality of responses generated by AI tools.

“Before, I didn’t really know how much detail to include when asking questions,” she said. “Now I understand how to explain properly what I want and refine my prompts so I can get more accurate answers.”

Since attending the workshop, Anjali says she feels much more confident using AI tools in everyday life and during learning. She now regularly uses Gemini and Microsoft Copilot to help her understand information, solve problems and support her studies.

As part of a Mental Health Awareness course she is currently undertaking, Anjali has also used AI to help generate ideas and responses to tasks and activities.

“They would sometimes ask us to create different answers instead of everyone having the same response,” she said. “So I learned how to ask AI for something more specific or more original.”

Anjali said learning alongside other women on the resilience programme made the experience even more valuable.

“It was really nice being part of a group where women could share experiences and learn together,” she said. “Some women had never used AI before, so it helped them understand how to start using it in normal everyday life.”

She also praised Kaneez’s supportive approach during the workshop.

“She explained everything really clearly and answered everyone’s questions nicely,” Anjali added.

The Grow Digital AI sessions aim to help women build digital confidence and learn practical ways AI can support everyday life, learning and future opportunities while also understanding how to use these tools safely and responsibly.

Sheila Rebuilds Her Career

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Sheila lives in Hayes and joined Grow through the SWEET programme after recently moving to the UK from Kenya with her daughter to join her husband. With a background in IT consultancy, business and clinical coding, Sheila had spent several years out of work while caring for her daughter and was trying to understand how to rebuild her career in a completely new country.

Sheila said:

“Back in my country, I was an IT consultant and I also majored in business and worked in medical volunteering and clinical coding. After having my daughter, I became the primary caregiver, so I could only work from home, which meant I was very limited in the type of work I could do.”

Although Sheila had qualifications and professional experience, she found trying to return to work in the UK difficult and overwhelming.

“I have only been in the UK for five months and have been looking to return to my career as my daughter starts Reception in September. I found it challenging being new to the country and having no family or support here. I didn’t know how to go about things and adapting to another country with different systems and another culture was difficult for me.”

“Getting my career back is important to me because I wanted to rebuild myself as a woman, not just as a mother.”

Sheila joined Grow two months ago after being introduced to the programme by another participant and has since attended online sessions, employment rights workshops and motivational sessions led by the Grow team.

“Grow gave me a blueprint for how to go about rebuilding my career. I got to understand how the UK employment system works and what my options are. It was really an eye opener for me. It gave me a roadmap that I’m now following.”

One of the biggest changes for Sheila has been understanding how employment works in the UK and how to present herself professionally.

“Grow’s sessions and team members helped me to improve my CV and make it more suitable for UK standards. I now understand the application processes and feel more confident about interviews.”

“I also learned how to use the STAR method. In my country we don’t use it, so that’s something I was still learning here. I used the STAR method in my interview and this month I secured a part-time job working as a medical receptionist.”

Sheila also said the sessions helped her understand her rights at work and gave her more confidence speaking in interviews.

“Now I know my rights at work. I understand what is fair and what is not considered fair in UK workplaces.”

“The motivational sessions were also very useful. They spoke to us about interview confidence, answering questions and language barriers. It was very informative.”

Looking ahead, Sheila hopes to continue building her career within healthcare and administration.

“I’m looking for administrative posts and I also want to volunteer so I can gain one-on-one experience before moving fully back into work.”

“I really want to stay in the medical profession.”

Reflecting on her experience, Sheila believes support like Grow is especially important for women returning to work after motherhood.

“So many women lose themselves in motherhood and when you want to come back, you have no guide.”

Sheila said:

“Mothers nurture future generations, but when a mother is nurtured, the world itself is healed and aligned to accommodate that future generation.”

 

Nisha’s Journey Back into Work

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Nisha joined Grow after spending nearly three years out of work while raising her family. Through Grow’s Job Brokerage support, she received help with her CV, interview preparation and job search, and has now secured a term-time role that fits around her children, as a kitchen assistant in a primary school.

Finding a way back to work

Before joining Grow, Nisha was actively applying for jobs but not getting results. Nisha said:

“My situation was very bad, I was desperately looking for work, I needed some financial stability… I was volunteering in a primary school… but I wasn’t hearing anything back.”

Her situation was shaped by her responsibilities at home.

“Timing, as a mother of two, was very difficult. Getting a job that fits within school hours is really tough… I didn’t have the option of someone picking up or dropping off my kids.  I am a mother of twin boys, both with special needs… I am the main carer for my boys, so although I was applying for different jobs, I found it very hard.”

Being out of work for a long period also made things harder.

“You don’t know where to start or how to approach things. There was a lack of support, low confidence, and limited employability skills.”

Getting support through Grow

Nisha came across Grow through a session at her children’s school.

“They came to my children’s school… she told me that they have a project helping mothers find a job, and I thought what can be better than this. I showed interest and my journey started with them.”

Through the Job Brokerage support, she began working on her applications and preparing for interviews.

“Grow helped me create my CV, and I think that was the reason I was being shortlisted for interviews.”

“I also had a mock interview… I learned how to answer questions and how to prepare… I received detailed feedback and every time I had an interview, I would read through the feedback.”

She also had ongoing one-to-one support.

“The one-to-one support was just amazing. I knew that if I got stuck, I had somewhere to go and someone to ask.”

Building confidence and skills

One of the key changes for Nisha was feeling more prepared and able to present herself.

“At that time, if someone asked me, ‘What do you do?’ I would say, ‘I’m a mother of two.’ That was my identity. Now, I feel more confident in how I present myself. I’ve learned how to talk about my skills and experience clearly and confidently.”

She also felt more supported in managing applications and interviews.

“My advisor was always there for me… I could talk about my applications… that was the most valuable support I received.”

Moving into work

Nisha has now secured a role as a kitchen assistant in a primary school.

“My role mainly involves preparing food, serving meals to the children, and supporting during lunchtime… and helping with general day-to-day duties.”

The role works around her family, which was a key priority.

“This job has given me exactly what I was seeking, balancing my family responsibilities while working.”

What has changed

Having a job has brought both stability and independence.

“I feel great. I’m working and managing my own life. I don’t have to ask anyone for help, and I’m now financially independent.”

She also describes the wider impact on her confidence and wellbeing.

“Working outside has given me more confidence in talking to people and learning new skills.”

Looking ahead

Nisha now feels more positive about her future and the opportunities ahead.

“I feel more positive about the future… as my circumstances change, I can see more opportunities opening up for me.”

Ruth Finds Confidence Again with Grow

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Ruth joined Grow in Kingston after taking a career break to raise her family and trying to return to work on her own. With a background in engineering and a newly completed AAT Level 2 qualification, she was looking to move into finance but wasn’t seeing success in her job search.

“I took a career break to raise my kids. About last year, I thought, you know what, let me start trying to get back into work. I began applying, but because I wanted a career change from engineering into finance, I wasn’t being successful.”

“I have a friend who told me about Grow and said I could give it a go. I just took a chance and went into the Guildhall. I spoke to Grow’s Employment Adviser Iryna, and that’s how I came in. I’ve been a part of them since then.”

Through Grow’s Job Brokerage support, Ruth received practical help with her CV, applications and interview preparation.

“Grow looked at my CV with me and helped to polish it up. They also did mock interviews and gave me sites to go to apply for jobs. They’ve been advising me on where to apply, helping with my CV, giving feedback and talking about what is needed in an interview. That has been really helpful.”

“I meet regularly with my mentor. If I have an interview and it’s gone wrong, we discuss what has gone wrong. Every response I get from applications, we talk about it. Grow also run sessions about how to make your CV stronger and how to be more confident.”

For Ruth, one of the most important things about Grow was being supported by women who understood her situation.

“They are women like me and they have children as well, so they’ve been through what I’ve been through. You feel like you’re on the same page with them. They understand childcare and work-life balance. That’s what I’ve loved about Grow.”

Although Ruth is still looking for work, she feels much more confident and clearer about her next steps.

“I feel more confident in my search. I know where to look and what to look out for, and that has been because of Grow.”

She also feels better prepared to talk about her career break and change in direction.

“They have told me how to address the career gap and how to talk about what I’ve done during that time. They’ve helped me see that it’s OK and that many people go through this.  It has been very positive being part of Grow, they make you feel as though we have these challenges but we can still get over them and find ways around them”.

Shital Learns New AI Skills For Everyday Life and Work Opportunities

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Shital joined the Grow Digital programme in Leicester (funded by the AKG Community Interest Fund) after being encouraged by the Peepul Centre to take part. Already working in retail, she wanted to build on her existing knowledge and stay up to date with new digital tools, particularly AI, to support her future career goals.

Shital said “I did my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in India, so I already had a good knowledge of computers nut here in the UK, I wanted to understand how things work and learn what is new. I go to the Peepul Centre and they encouraged me to join the course as they said it would help me learn more digital skills.”

Even though Shital already had a background in computing, she wanted to refresh her skills and keep up with changes.

“Every day there is something new coming. I wanted to stay updated and understand the new systems.”

Before joining the course, Shital had not used AI tools but through the Grow Digital sessions, she began to understand how AI can be used in everyday life.

“Nowadays, in everything, you need AI. It helps with writing, correcting sentences and many things.”

She also learned practical skills that she can use going forward such as writing and improving CVs, understanding job descriptions, improving writing skills and protecting personal data online. There are so many scams now, so learning how to protect your data was also very useful” said Shital.

The course was delivered in a way that made it accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point.

“There were lots of women in the class. Some didn’t know how to use AI at all, and some were not very confident with mobile phones. Kaneez, the tutor, supported learners by explaining things in different languages when needed. She explained in different languages, like Hindi, so everyone could understand. That was very helpful.”

For Shital, the course was about refreshing her knowledge and building confidence with new tools.

“This course helped me learn something new and improve my skills. I now feel more confident using digital tools in everyday life. If I don’t know something, I can use AI to help me.”

Shital is currently working in retail but is thinking about her future. “This is my job for now, but I am interested in working in something computer-based in the future. What I have learned on this course will really help me. It has given me useful skills for both work and everyday life.”

For Shital, Grow Digital has been an opportunity to refresh her existing skills, learn about AI, and prepare for future career opportunities. By building her confidence and keeping her knowledge up to date, she is taking steps towards moving into a more technology-focused role.

Sumbal Finds Herself Again Through Grow

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Sumbal joined the Grow Programme after trying on her own to find work that would fit around her three young children. As a single parent, she was looking for something that would work for her family life, while also helping her rebuild her confidence and sense of identity.

Through Grow, she was introduced to an Early Years Skills Bootcamp, which she is now completing.

Sumbal said:

“I’ve got four kids who are 8, 7, 3 and 2 and I’m a single parent. After my youngest was born, I started thinking, I need to be me again. Since my first child was born in 2017, everything has been about the kids. People don’t even call you by your name, they just know me as my kids’ mum. I thought I need to snap out of it and do something for myself.

I tried on my own for about eight months. I was applying online, doing interviews, even doing some remote commission work. I thought working from home might suit me because of the kids, but it didn’t work. I was still at home, still surrounded by everything, not socialising. I realised that’s not for me.

I remembered Grow from a presentation that Grow’s Khatera did at my child’s school and I thought I would contact them. I spoke to Sheeja and straight away she said there’s a course starting – an 8-week bootcamp with JCL – and asked if I was interested. I said yes straight away, because I knew I wanted to work with children.

Before I started the course, I joined a few Grow online sessions. They really helped me. They talked about different types of work and how to choose something that suits you. That helped me decide properly that working with children is what I want to do.

Now I’m doing the 8-week Early Years course. The first two weeks were face to face, then online, and now we’re back face to face again. We’ve done things like safeguarding, legislation, and first aid training. They also help with work placements and interviews at the end.

It means if I go to a nursery or school, I already have what they are looking for.

Grow ask you during the course what you want to do next. You can go into work or continue studying, like Level 2 or Level 3. They don’t just leave you after the course, they stay with you until you’re ready. For me, I want to go into employment in a school or nursery setting.

Grow made everything easier for me. I was struggling on my own for eight months, but with Grow, from the moment I walked in, they’ve been helping me.

They check in on me, they support me, they guide me. Sheeja even said she can provide a reference for me.

I honestly regret not coming to Grow earlier. I should have come first instead of trying on my own. I’ve already recommended Grow to other mums. When they see me, they ask what I’m doing and I tell them they should join. Some of them have already started doing things through Grow as well.

My focus now is to get a job. If I can get a role in a school or nursery, I’m ready to go.

Iram Finds Direction, Confidence and Community through Grow

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Iram is a mum of three from Hounslow who had been working as a 111 Health Advisor within the NHS for many years. While she had built a long-standing career in healthcare, the role involved unsociable hours, often working evenings and early mornings, which made it difficult to balance work and family life.

At the same time, Iram experienced a serious leg injury, which required surgery and left her unable to work for several months. This period had a significant impact on her wellbeing.

“I was off for four or five months and I was quite low. I had to go back to work because otherwise I would have lost my licence, but I knew something needed to change.”

At this point, Iram attended a local job fair, where she met members of the Grow team, Saeema and Sheeja.

When Iram joined Grow, she was not only looking for employment opportunities but also time to recover, reflect and explore new options.

“I just wanted something part-time, something that worked around my children. I wanted to explore what was out there and see what I could do next.”

She was also considering a career change, with an interest in moving into a role that would better fit around her family life, such as working in a school or developing her own business.

From her first interaction with Grow, Iram describes feeling an immediate sense of belonging.

“I had an instant connection. They made me feel so welcome, like I’d known them for ages.”

Through the Grow community and sessions, Iram was able to access a wide range of support, including advice on training and career options, online workshops and information and guidance on education and support.

As part of her journey on Grow, Iram has actively engaged in learning and development to support her next steps.

Through Grow she completed a Canva course delivered by Capital City College, where she developed digital skills including:

  • Creating presentations and posters
  • Designing logos and social media content
  • Producing visual materials independently

“At the start, I didn’t know how to use Canva at all. Now I can design posters, presentations and even logos. It’s given me confidence to do things myself.”

Alongside this, Iram is currently completing a sewing course that she sourced herself through Learn Hillingdon, with plans to progress into dressmaking and explore starting her own business. She is keen to join Grow’s ‘Grow Your Own Business’ session to help her better understand and explore self employment as an option.

Iram has also expressed interest in further training, including Teaching Assistant Level 3 and Coaching and mentoring. Her approach has been to use this time to upskill and explore different pathways before moving into her next role.

Since joining Grow, Iram has experienced significant personal and practical changes from greater awareness of training and career opportunities to a clearer direction for future employment.

“I’ve learned so much. There’s so much available that I didn’t know about before such as  organisations like Smart Works who can support with interview clothes. I didn’t know support like this was out there.”

She now feels more prepared to take her next steps, whether that is employment within a school setting or developing her own business idea.

“I love being part of the Grow community. There’s just so much support available. No matter what it is, someone is there to help you.”

“It’s such an excellent platform to be part of. I’m so glad I joined.”

 

Supporting Women Back into Work with SWEET

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For the past seven years, Grow has delivered the SWEET Programme, supporting women who are furthest from the labour market to rebuild confidence, develop skills and take steps towards work.

Funded by the National Lottery and now entering its 10th year, SWEET supports women across London and is delivered in partnership between Grow (Belina Consulting), PDT, and Equi-Vision.

Saeema, who has been working on the SWEET programme since 2019, says many of the women who come to Grow face a combination of barriers when trying to enter or return to work.

“Many of the women we support haven’t worked for a long time, or they’ve never worked in the UK before. Some have qualifications or experience from their home country, but they don’t know how the system works here. Others have spent years raising children and now want to return to work but don’t know where to start.”

Women are referred to SWEET through a range of community partners including schools, children’s centres, job centres, charities and local community organisations, as well as through word of mouth. Once on the programme, they receive personalised one-to-one support alongside group sessions designed to build confidence, develop skills and help them understand how to access opportunities.

“One of the biggest barriers is experience,” Saeema explains. “Employers often ask for experience, but if someone hasn’t worked here before it can be difficult to get that first opportunity.”

To help overcome this, Grow works closely with local partners to connect women with volunteering opportunities and work experience, allowing them to gain practical experience while continuing to receive support with things like CV writing, interview preparation and job searching.

“We work with organisations such as H4All, Home-Start and other community groups. Volunteering gives women the chance to gain experience while still having the support they need to move forward.”

Most women stay on the programme for between six and nine months, although support can continue longer depending on individual needs. Advisers stay in regular contact, helping women stay motivated and setting small steps that move them closer to employment.

“It’s about giving people the time and space they need,” Saeema says. “Sometimes someone just needs help understanding how to apply for a job online or how to upload their CV. Other times it’s about building confidence and helping them believe they can do it.”

The programme also includes Grow Bootcamp sessions, delivered in community settings such as schools and children’s centres. These sessions help women explore their confidence, identify barriers and think about practical solutions for moving forward.

A key strength of Grow’s approach is the lived experience within the team itself. Many of the women who work with Grow are mothers and have faced similar challenges themselves, including balancing childcare, building confidence and returning to work after a break.

Saeema often delivers parts of the Grow Bootcamp in different community languages, helping women feel comfortable and fully included in the sessions.

“When women hear someone speaking their language and understanding their situation, they open up,” she explains. “They realise they’re not alone and that there are ways forward.”

For many women, the programme is about more than just finding a job. It’s about understanding the systems around them, building confidence and gaining the skills they need to move forward independently.

“A lot of the women we meet have so much ability and experience,” Saeema says. “They just don’t always realise it themselves. Once they begin to see what they are capable of, it can really change how they move forward.”

Through personalised support, community partnerships and a deep understanding of the barriers women face, the SWEET programme continues to help women take meaningful steps into employment, volunteering and further learning, creating lasting impact for families and communities across London.

Mire Gains New Learning and Skills with Grow

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Since joining Grow in October 2025, Mire has been actively working to build her skills and confidence through Grow Digital and Hillingdon Adult Education. She lives in the Hillingdon area and is exploring different job options while juggling family life.

Mire said:

“I first came to Grow because someone told me there was a course at the Children’s Centre at Oak Farm in Hillingdon. I didn’t know what it was, but I went anyway. When I got there, I saw that Grow was helping people like me who have never worked in the UK, to get ready for work. I didn’t know how to make a CV or how to apply for jobs. I learned all this in the Grow Bootcamp and I really liked it.

Before I came to the UK, I worked in lots of jobs. I started working when I was 14. I worked in a clothes factory, a design company, and later trained and worked in beauty therapy. I really loved that job. But since coming here, it’s been hard. I don’t know if my certificates are recognised. Also, I have young children and my husband works full time, so it’s not easy for me to go out and work.

Grow helped me to think about my options. I still love beauty and I would love to work in that again, but the hours don’t always fit with my family. You might have to work weekends or evenings and I need to be there to pick up my children. So now I’m also thinking about working in a school, maybe as a teaching assistant or in a nursery. I have experience with children and I think I would be good at it.

The biggest challenge for me was computers. I didn’t feel confident at all using a laptop or PC. I was scared. But Grow put me on a five-week computer course. After that, I joined another course with Hillingdon Adult Education. I finished that recently and I feel much more confident now. I can go online, use forms, and I’m even think about doing more courses.

Now I want to continue learning. I’ve signed up for another computer course and I’m also interested in childcare, childminding, and maybe doing English and maths too. Grow helps me a lot. They tell me what’s available and they can support me to apply for jobs too. I’m really happy I joined Grow. It’s free and they push us to learn. That is the best thing.