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Lisa “got back on the horse” following redundancy – and you can too

Lisa was made redundant due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but with support from PRIME Cymru mentor Brian Birtles, she has now secured a new role as well as starting a new business.

Lisa Phillip’s story is one that is all too common this year.

After the retail finance bank she worked for struggled to cope with the pressure of the Coronavirus pandemic, Lisa, who is over 50, was made redundant in July.

“It was quite a difficult time. Although I’d been looking at other positions, it did come as a bit of a shock when that choice was taken away from me”, she said.

But Lisa is not alone. Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal that redundancies in the UK have hit a record high. Unprecedented figures show that 314,000 people were made redundant in the three months leading up to September.

Luckily, Lisa came across PRIME Cymru on a LinkedIn post and was paired with mentor Brian Birtles. With his support, she was able to secure a new role within the Civil Service, as well as pursue her dream of starting a Reiki business.

Our expert Projects Manager knew Brian would be the perfect fit for Lisa. With his vast business experience and similar personality, he understood Lisa’s ambitions and helped her to set realistic goals.

Lisa said: “It was a mix between emotional support with practical advice…and he did it all with a good sense of humour.”

After being made redundant, Lisa suffered with imposter syndrome, which made her question whether she was good enough to apply for new roles.

Having overcome this hurdle, she now wants to reassure those on the same journey.

She said: “I had rejections, but talking things through with Brian, I was able to see my worth and my purpose and to get back on the horse and try again.

“I want people to know that you’re not written off once you’re 50, there are positions out there and there are a lot of transferable skills that women over 50 have that can get them back in the job market.”
 
 

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