Emily's Story with First Steps

Emily joined the First Steps Employability Programme with the aim of building her confidence, developing her skills and taking the first steps towards a career working with children.

As a care-experienced young person, Emily was determined to pursue her ambitions and was inspired by her adoptive parents, who have fostered many young children over the years. Their support helped shape her passion for making a positive difference in young people's lives.

Working closely with her employability key worker, Emily received one-to-one support designed to help her build confidence, resilience and motivation. She was encouraged to take on new challenges and explore opportunities that would bring her closer to her career goals.

A key part of her journey was gaining hands-on work experience within childcare settings. Through placements working with infants and primary school-aged children, Emily developed valuable practical skills and gained a deeper understanding of the childcare profession.

Emily's hard work and commitment led to her being offered a place at college to study Early Years Education and Childcare. However, she was eager to combine learning with employment and identified a Modern Apprenticeship as the ideal pathway.

With support from the employability team, Emily successfully applied for a North Ayrshire Council Modern Apprenticeship in Early Years. Her dedication, enthusiasm and preparation shone through during the recruitment process, earning her one of the highly sought-after apprenticeship opportunities.

The interview panel praised Emily's performance, describing her as someone who had "shone like a star" throughout the selection process and commenting on her genuine passion for working with children.

"I knew I wanted to work with children, and the support I received helped me build the confidence to go after that goal. The work experience and encouragement made a huge difference."

Today, Emily is taking the next step towards her dream career, gaining valuable experience while continuing to learn and develop within a profession she loves.

Emily's journey highlights how targeted support, practical experience and the right opportunities can help young people overcome barriers and achieve their ambitions. Through the First Steps Employability Programme, she has transformed her confidence into a successful career pathway and is now building a future doing something she is truly passionate about.

Find out how Working North Ayrshire can support young people like Emily by visiting our opportunities page.