Following a successful relationship developed over the past year, Arc Hospitality reached out to The Forward Trust in May with an exciting opportunity. They were organising an induction and interview session at Dreamland on Monday 19 May, and invited Restart to refer as many participants as possible who were interested in bar work. The brief was simple – participants just needed to bring a positive attitude, wear relaxed clothing, and have their Right to Work documentation in hand.
Despite the short notice, the Restart team responded with speed and enthusiasm. Employment advisors were quickly informed and began personally contacting participants, encouraging them to take advantage of the opportunity. Team leader Kirsty Langley coordinated the response, gathering confirmations and arranging to meet the group outside the venue to ensure a smooth and confident arrival.
On the day of the event, Kirsty arrived early and was warmly welcomed by those from Arc Hospitality who were leading the session. She handled sign-ins and stayed for the full event, offering support to participants and observing the level of engagement, identifying those who stepped up with confidence, those who stayed more reserved, and those who left early. This insight has been invaluable in providing tailored feedback to employment advisors to further support participant growth.
Over 25 Restart participants attended, and following the session, Kirsty and the Arc Hospitality team sat down to identify standout individuals who were ready to begin work. With just four days until the Saturday start date, the challenge was clear — but both teams were determined to succeed.
Participants worked quickly to complete e-learning modules, upload necessary documents, and finalise onboarding. With individuals dropping in and out of the office all week to meet the requirements, the commitment was evident. Thanks to ongoing communication between Kirsty and the Arc Hospitality team, eight participants were successfully placed into roles that weekend, with a ninth joining the following Saturday.
This collaboration is a shining example of what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared commitment to empowering people through employment. With nine participants now successfully in work and many more opportunities on the horizon, Restart and Arc Hospitality are proving that rapid response, clear communication, and mutual trust deliver real results.
On the collaboration, Emma Woodward, senior operations manager at The Forward Trust, said, ‘We’ve been delighted to support Arc with their recruitment and to support them with suitable, reliable workers for their busy summer ahead at the fantastic Dreamland entertainment park in Thanet. They’re a fantastic employer and advocate for supporting those with long-term unemployment or health-related barriers to return to work. So far, they’ve recruited 11 of our participants.’
The partnership between Restart and Arc Hospitality continues to grow, with both teams staying in close contact to ensure participants are well supported and to meet any future staffing needs. With summer just beginning, this marks the start of an exciting season of opportunity and success for all involved.
This blog was originally published by Forward. You can read the original post here.
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