Jamie McGuire
Jamie came to North Hertfordshire College nearly two years ago on a New Deal contract after being out of work for over 18 months.
Before then he’d had a range of jobs including semi-professional footballer for Windsor & Eton F.C., editorial assistant at the News of the World, postman, sign writer, removal operative and caretaker at Camden Council for five years. However, due to moving areas, Jamie found it difficult to find work.
Happy to “utilise a couple of Government initiatives to help get back to work”, Jamie initially learnt a range of skills, including motivation, creating a CV, completing application forms and interview skills. He has gone on to achieve a City & Guilds Level 2 Adult Numeracy and Literacy, Business Administration, ILM Team Leading and an ITQ Level 2 course.
Jamie is now working at Haileybury College in Hertford Heath as a caretaker and has been able to repay his debts.
He is also training for a World Endurance Title – hoping to break the world record for the number of press-ups completed in five minutes. Jamie said, “I took up learning again [when] I was at an extremely low ebb; my confidence and self-esteem had taken a hammering. I desperately needed to change things; I wanted my independence back. The best way forward was to get some qualifications behind me.”