Paul Carey, Halifax Bank of Scotland

Paul Carey, aged 59 from Gateacre, visited JET South Liverpool's office in Belle Vale following a period of unemployment through ill health.

He had recently applied for a number of jobs but was finding it difficult to secure an interview, despite his previous experience as a senior member of staff with a software company. Paul believed that this was due, in part, to his age.

When he visited JET South Liverpool he heard about the Skills Passport initiative, a scheme that involves employers directly in the design of training programmes that meet their recruitment needs.

A Skills Passport had recently been designed in partnership with Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS), a company that operates a large insurance administration centre on The Estuary Commerce Park in Speke.

Paul successfully applied to join the programme having been particularly attracted by the guarantee of an interview on successful completion of the training.