Through the Westminster Works partnership, our HELP service successfully referred two clients, who were interested in working in retail, into a two-week work experience placement with Debenhams, at their flagship store on Oxford Street.

The two successful candidates attended an Assessment Day on 18th February at the Debenhams store, where they participated in team work exercises, demonstrated their customer service skills and took part in a one-to-one interview with the Debenhams team along with 15 other candidates.
 
The two-week work experience placement starts in March 2010 and will include a full induction, training on the cash desks and customer services training.  The jobseekers will be placed within a specific department and assigned a ‘buddy’ to work alongside.  Both clients are very excited about this opportunity and are keen for it to start.
 
One client commented when told the good news that she had been successful, ‘This is great news, I am really happy.  I have tried applying for a job at Debenhams before but never got an interview.  This is a really good opportunity for me, I am so pleased to have got through to this stage.’ 
 
HELP hopes that both clients will be offered employment after the work placement ends if they can demonstrate what Debenhams are looking for.  We will continue to offer ongoing employment support until they are successful.