Joe’s Story: How Determination and the Right Support Helped Him Break Through Barriers into Construction

When the right support meets real determination, incredible things can happen. Joe’s journey into construction shows how tailored training and understanding can change lives.

Joe C is a determined young man with a clear goal: to build a career in construction. His journey began when he joined a four-week GLA Roofing and Green Initiatives course, supported by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Ipswich. Joe threw himself into the training, working hard to learn the various roofing and green skills while revising for his CSCS test.

Unfortunately, the CSCS test delivered by an external partner was in an online format, which Joe struggles with, and he didn’t pass. Undeterred, GLA financially supported him to take the test again through another provider. Once more, Joe passed his revision sessions and completed paper-based mocks successfully, but the online final test proved too much of a barrier.

Joe’s challenge wasn’t a lack of ability or effort. It was the testing format. He has ADHD and finds online testing environments difficult to focus in, which makes it harder to show what he knows.

Throughout this time, GLA Group were looking for ways to overcome challenges like this. Earlier this year, they became an approved GQA test centre to deliver paper-based CSCS examinations. With further support from Ipswich Job Centre, Joe was offered a place on a paper-based GQA CSCS course in Lowestoft.

With DWP funding, Joe worked incredibly hard all week and passed his CSCS test with flying colours. Just one week later, he secured work as a labourer on a construction site.

Congratulations, Joe. Your determination and persistence are an inspiration, and we wish you every success in your new career.