Gary: “Long term recruits”

At Involve we enjoy getting to know people, hearing their life stories and keeping in contact with the individuals we send to jobs. We have decided that we would like to magnify the real lives and different reasons people might end up working for us – showing others that there are a lot of options and career paths in construction, the railway and logistics.

Today, I was invited to meet one of our long-term recruits at a Newport Redrow site.

Gary works as a groundworker – representing Involve for the past few months and states he is hoping he will remain at that site for around a year. I met with Gary and he pointed out the enormity of the site he is working on and showed me into the canteen. I introduced myself as Involve Group’s Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager and how Involve are working towards doing more and more in the community and partnering with services and community projects to support people, from all walks of life, into work.

Gary was asked to speak about his early memories of choosing a career. Gary states that he left Taffs Well, South Wales at 19 to join the police force in Bethnal Green, London. He reported that he was hooked the second he visited London and knew that this was what he wanted to do. Gary worked in the kidnapping and recovering hostages department – he states to have enjoyed the excitement that the work brought him but ended up getting pulled into a life of drug use which lead to further breakdown in his personal relationships and resulted in rehabilitation.

Gary states he resigned from the Police Force in 2007 – then became a Bodyguard for the Dubai royal family for a year; working his way to team leader for security working on projects such as the X-Factor. He took six months out and worked for an art gallery in Hyde Park where he states he got involved in a drinking culture. Looking for something to replace his former career Gary sadly became involved in armed robberies which led to serving 10 years in Belmarsh prison.

Following release, Gary wanted to get back into work – he reported wanting a ‘normal lifestyle’ with no issues. He met a new partner who he states supported him to settle back into life and he felt motivated to upskill himself. He gained a CSCS card, without help and with this then became a general labourer – working his way to his current position. Gary states that he has learnt so much from being on site and that everyone was always happy to show him how things were done and still are.

Gary said he heard about Involve Recruitment and looked them up himself – wanting that peace of mind that he could find work. Rhys Vale has been Gary’s contact from Involve for some time and he states that he is very personable and positive – Gary reports ‘never being out of work’ and that he had ‘no complaints’.

When speaking to me today Gary wanted to convey that if you want to work there are no barriers – that motivation for a more stable lifestyle drove him back into employment and he reported that he doubts he would leave the construction industry now. Gary strongly believes that having a stable home-life was the key to everything for him and then now having a stable career can only mean he is committed to the industry.

At Involve we are in support of finding anyone work if they want it. Everyone has a past and that does not mean it has to follow you for the rest of your life. We pride ourselves on supporting people back into work – proving that we are an inclusive employer that is looking for commitment – leaving a legacy for future generations.

Thank you to Gary and all at Redrow Cot-hill site for allowing me to hold this interview.

Written by Freya Church – CSR Manager for Involve Group. 03/10/2022.