Generation UK is a charity focused on connecting around 1 million unemployed individuals in the UK with 1 million job vacancies, especially where there are skills gaps. They provide life-changing employment opportunities through profession-specific skills boot camp training targeting in-demand careers. Their unique approach includes extensive pastoral support and mentoring, lasting up to six months post-programme, to help learners secure jobs. Generation collaborates with employer partners like us to match learners with roles, and all programmes are conducted online and free of charge. So far, they have helped thousands of job seekers, with a diverse beneficiary group that includes around 70% from ethnic minority backgrounds, 20% with disabilities, 45% from low socio-economic backgrounds, and about 70% who are young adults under 30.
Since its inception, Generation has helped thousands of people launch life-changing careers. In today’s job market, where high early-career turnover is common, it is noteworthy that 83% of Generation alumni remain in the same job a year later. Their programmes focus on building long-term career pathways rather than just offering short-term placements. With reliable retention rates, proven commitment, and a real impact, we at Cygnet highly value our collaboration with Generation as we strive to hire entry-level talent that stays with us. Generation candidates possess a unique attitude that we rarely encounter elsewhere. They genuinely want to be at Cygnet; for them, this is more than just a job, it’s a career. A life-changing career.
Recently, we caught up with one of our wonderful success stories from Generation — Jeetander Lal, who’s affectionately known as ‘Jatty’ or ‘Jas’ by everyone.
Jatty is a ‘Generation UK graduate’ who was employed at the end of last year at Cygnet’s Thornfield House in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
In this fantastic Cygnet social care service, Jatty has successfully completed his initial probation period and is thriving in his role as a Support Worker in the care and support function at this service.
As Jatty explained…
‘’Attending the Healthcare programme with Generation was instrumental in helping me transition from my design background into my very first role within the healthcare sector. The course not only built my confidence but also equipped me with the essential knowledge, skills, and understanding required to thrive in a new industry. The programme was led by 2 outstanding Generation UK tutors, Proscovia and Carrie, whose guidance and support made a huge impact on my learning journey…..In addition, the inspiring guest speakers—such as Laura from Cygnet—provided invaluable insight. Laura highlighted the challenges of working as a Support Worker at Cygnet, while also outlining the extensive training, ongoing support, and benefits the organisation offers to its staff. This combination of practical training and industry insight gave me the tools and confidence I needed to perform strongly at my interview with Cygnet. As a result, I secured my role and, within just two months of joining, was nominated to become a Freedom to Speak-up Ambassador—an achievement I am incredibly proud of. Without attending the Generation UK programme, I believe I would still be unemployed today. I am deeply grateful for the investment Generation made in me, through their training, resources, and encouragement. The programme has truly changed the course of my career, and I cannot thank them enough for opening the door to such a meaningful and rewarding path.’’
Our wonderful Laura, whose mentioned above, and who is one of Cygnet’s Generation UK Partnership Ambassadors, recently sat down with Jatty once more and asked him the following questions…
Jas, what does a day look like for you working for Cygnet?
‘’As for my typical day, I usually come in early, around 07:15, and sign in. I then go to the kitchen to do the safety checks, before heading to the TL’s office to fill in my timesheet, recording my official shift start time – 07:45. After that, I locate a laptop and catch up on my work emails. The rest of the staff arrive before 07:45. The TL reads out the handover, explaining what the residents did during the night, any issues or concerns, and the activities planned for the day. I am then assigned a resident for the day – either 1:1 or 2:1 support. I support the resident with their personal care, clean their room, make sure they are fed and hydrated throughout the day, and accompany them to activities and appointments. I fill in all additional notes by hand in their folder, recording when the resident showered/bathed, what they ate and drank, any bowel movements, and what time they went to bed. At Thornfield, most residents are in bed before 20:00. I also document this information in the “pink notes,” which are filed on the laptop at the end of the day. If a resident has an incident during the day, a Datix report is completed on the laptop, and the Datix report number is added to their pink notes. Just before the end of my shift, I go into the TL’s office to fill in my timesheet – usually 20:00, or later if I have to stay behind for any reason.’’
What do you most enjoy about your job, Jas?
‘’What I enjoy most about my job is connecting with the residents and forming a bond, so that I understand what they want. Only two residents at Thornfield are verbal, so this connection is very important. Most days, it doesn’t even feel like work, which I love. But of course, some days can be stressful too. The way I see it: always prepare for the worst 😂 If I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to read minds—not the whole mind, just enough to help me understand what the residents want at any particular time, or if they are experiencing pain.’’
Could anything have been done differently in your job search with Cygnet? Did you enjoy the pre-training and delivery sessions with Generation and Cygnet? Was your onboarding satisfactory? How else could we have supported you?
‘’The onboarding and training at Thornfield were good. My only concern is that Safety Intervention training should be completed before anyone starts shadowing – for obvious reasons. I also had a shadow on my very first support day, which I found quite strange, haha. Apart from that, all the onboarding and training at Thornfield have been excellent.’’
Generations’ mission is to prepare, place, and support individuals in achieving life-changing careers that might otherwise be inaccessible. Their vision is to help everyone they work with find meaningful careers and attain lasting well-being. They collaborate with employers, like us, as true partners, creating a tailored partnership that aligns with our goal of providing life-changing career opportunities. We share a belief in the transformative power of employment and understand that long-term well-being and security often remain out of reach for those facing barriers to work. However, through our collaborative efforts, we can establish a partnership that provides everyone with the opportunity to build a better future. Here’s to many more years of working together!
