An Ashton trainee finally got his foot in the door in the job market – by confronting local businesses face-to-face.

Tired of knock-backs, Louis Turner knocked-on the doors of local shops until he got a healthy response from Holland & Barrett. Despite promising to ring him in a week, the town-centre outlet offered him work the very next day.

Louis spent four frustrating months’ jobless and even applied for work over Christmas as a department store’s elf! He made such little progress despite having a CV which would be the envy of most people. A trained plasterer who managed to cement five GCSEs; Louise had work experience in warehousing and a driving license.

Louis Turner

The 19 year-old finally found direction thanks to Rathbone’s Pathways programme. Backed by the European Social Fund, this scheme enables young people to gain the experience and qualifications needed to find work. Pathways was just the confidence booster Louis required and he responded warmly to the challenge to be more proactive in the job hunt.

“Most of the shops I approached wouldn’t even take my CV” commented Louis, “but Holland & Barrett said they would look at it and ring me back within a week. They phoned back the next day.”

Louis is happy to be holding down a job and wants to travel the world. He has a famous uncle in former Manchester United midfielder, Sammy Mcllroy. The Northern Ireland international was famous for his energy and tenacity; qualities which Louis reckons every young job-seeker needs.

He said: “My advice is: Keep trying and no matter what happens, NEVER GIVE UP!”