That’s how our Growing Talent participants finish Orientation & Holistic Week—confident, self-aware, and ready.
And every single time, it’s unforgettable.
At the start, you can feel it—uncertainty, hesitation, tentative steps as applicants meet employers in a completely different way.
But then something shifts.
💥 The spark appears.
💥 The confidence builds.
💥 The light gets brighter.
This week was no exception.
Maddie, Kassim and Michael showed exactly what growth looks like:
⭐ True collaboration on every task
⭐ Confidence to voice opinions
⭐ Respect to listen and learn from others
These aren’t just “skills for work”—they’re skills for life.
Michael summed it up brilliantly:
👉 “The process was really straightforward… I felt informed, supported, and guided throughout.”
👉 “Growing Talent is unique—face-to-face contact with employers from the very beginning.”
👉 “The workbooks are a powerful personal development toolkit—helping build self-awareness and self-appreciation.”
👉 “I’ve learnt how to manage conflict, emotions, pressure—and what truly keeps me grounded.”
That’s the point.
Growing Talent isn’t just about getting a job.
It’s about building people who know themselves and can navigate life and work with confidence.
We finish the week with i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training—a 3-year accredited qualification focused on:
Self-care
Resilience
Supporting others
And yes—I deliver the manager-level training.
Why deliver this to non-managers?
Because people like Kassim, Maddie and Michael aren’t just entering the workforce…
They’re future leaders.
Understanding both the legal and moral responsibility for wellbeing isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Next step 🚀
Once their employer vetting is complete:
Maddie & Kassim → SPS UK & I
Michael → CIS Security Limited
👏 Huge congratulations to all three.
And finally—this only works because of collective belief.
Thank you to:
Our sponsors
JobCentre Plus
Southwark Care Leavers
Our partner charities
And the employers bold enough to recruit differently
But most of all…
Respect to the participants who step outside their comfort zone, take that leap of faith, and start closing their own social mobility gap.
That’s where the real transformation happens.
#GrowingTalent
#SocialMobility
#FutureLeaders
#Employability
#Leadership
#MentalHealth
#Resilience
If you are a London employer with vacancies coming up in May – why not join Growing Talent? It’s completely free.