Last year, we welcomed Ellie into our London team through West Lea’s Supported Internship programme – an initiative designed to provide young individuals with special educational needs the opportunity to gain valuable work experience. If you missed Ellie’s internship story, you can read it here.
Upon successfully completing her Supported Internship and demonstrating her capability to excel in her duties, Ellie has become an integral part of our team, and we’re delighted to confirm that she is now employed by us.
Ellie has shown incredible growth, independence, and resilience. She is now working as a cleaner at a different client site and is preparing to begin an exciting new chapter in her development journey – studying for a cleaning apprenticeship.
We recently caught up with Ellie to reflect on her journey so far – how her confidence has developed, how she now navigates change, her experience transitioning to working at a new site, and her career aspirations after completing her apprenticeship.
Overcoming obstacles: building confidence and embracing independence
When Ellie first joined us, she found everyday tasks and navigating public transport challenging, so she relied on her family and those around her. But what a difference a year of tailored support and encouragement makes!
Ellie’s confidence and independence have grown significantly over this past year. She now travels independently from Enfield into central London three days a week. Previously, even taking a bus alone was a source of worry for Ellie. Today, she confidently takes both the bus and train to work, showing just how far she’s come.
But it’s not just the practical skills that have developed – Ellie has made significant progress in how she manages and adapts to change, something that once felt overwhelming. Before, any shift in her routine – new tasks, new people, or changes in schedule – would create a sense of uncertainty. Now, Ellie takes these changes in stride. Whether it’s being assigned to clean different floors or managing her tasks independently when her supporting supervisor is away, Ellie embraces the unexpected with calm and confidence.
Ellie has also grown in her social confidence. She was initially shy and found it difficult to speak to new people. Ellie now engages more openly with those around her and has developed a strong rapport with her colleagues.
Thriving at a new site
As Ellie transitioned from a supported intern to our employee, she also moved to a new site where we could accommodate further adjustments to continue supporting her growth.
With her West Lea job coaches no longer by her side, it was important for us to ensure Ellie still had dedicated support at her new site. We paired Ellie up with our site supervisor, Genesis, who has been instrumental in helping Ellie settle in – offering patient guidance, hands-on support, and reassurance every step of the way. Ellie shadowed Genesis closely until she felt confident to carry out her tasks independently. Their strong rapport has been key in strengthening Ellie’s confidence and empowering her to thrive.
As we already understood Ellie’s needs, preferences and strengths during her internship, we tailored her tasks and responsibilities at the new site to help her succeed. For example, many of Ellie’s tasks at the previous site involved working in enclosed spaces, which she found quite challenging. At the new site, Ellie works in more open areas carrying out tasks she feels more comfortable with, such as cleaning tables, meeting rooms, and managing the dishwasher.
Ellie shared:
“I prefer working at this site – it feels more inclusive, and I feel more confident here. My team is really nice and has really helped me with my confidence. I really enjoy working with Genesis.”
Ellie currently works with us nine hours a week, spread across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. To help make Ellie’s commute to work more manageable, we’ve adjusted her shifts to start and end outside of rush hour. As Ellie prepares to begin her apprenticeship, we will be looking to gradually increase her hours to support her studies whilst still ensuring she can travel outside peak times.
Starting her apprenticeship journey
Ellie’s next step in her development journey is studying towards a Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship.
This 13-month programme will help Ellie build on the skills she’s already developed, delving deeper into the health and safety aspects of cleaning, practical techniques, as well as the theory that underpins the role.
Ellie is particularly excited about the practical side of the apprenticeship, where she will get to demonstrate her cleaning skills. She’s also looking forward to learning more about the effects of chemicals in cleaning products, how to work safely, and how to manage cleaning materials and consumables more effectively.
Due to Ellie’s challenges with dyslexia, a dedicated member of our team will be supporting Ellie with the written tasks and preparation for multiple-choice assessments.
Ellie said:
“I’m really excited about starting this apprenticeship and gaining my practical cleaning award. It’s going to be a good experience to add to my CV, and I`m happy I’ll get a qualification at the end of it.”
Ellie’s impact and career aspirations
With her apprenticeship just beginning, Ellie already has her sights set on the future. Once she gains her qualification, she hopes to continue developing her career with Churchill and eventually step into a supervisor role – inspired by the guidance and support she has received from Genesis. Ellie’s ambition is to support and empower others facing similar challenges, just as she has been supported throughout her own journey.
Ellie had some inspiring advice for others considering a similar journey:
“When things change, don’t stress – take your time. It’s okay if it takes a bit longer. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to get things straight away and compared myself to others, but now I’ve learnt to go at my own pace. If you don’t get something straight away, don’t panic – you’ll get there in your own time.”
Ellie’s impact has already been felt across our business. She was recently recognised with a Shining Star Award for embodying our Group value of Always Do Right – a testament to her dedication, positivity, and hard work.
We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in Ellie’s journey – from supported intern to our employee, and now apprentice. Ellie’s progress is a real testament to her resilience and a powerful reminder of the impact of inclusive opportunities and the right support.
A recent highlight was when we invited Ellie’s mum to visit her workplace. Ellie proudly and confidently explained her daily tasks, demonstrating just how far she has come since day one.
We look forward to continue supporting Ellie and seeing all that she goes on to achieve.
