A young man without a job and struggling for work as the Covid crisis struck has now been taken on by Barking and Dagenham College as a digital specialist.

Jack Hunter, now 21, achieved a distinction on an apprenticeship in the government’s Kickstart scheme for six-month work placements.

His turnaround began when he met college staff at a careers event at his local Dagenham job centre who were impressed with his enthusiasm. 

“Kickstart gave me a chance at a time of upheaval because of Covid,” Jack recalls. “It got me a foot in the door in the working world.” 

Jack was offered a digital apprenticeship at the college at the end of his work placement.

He has just finished his apprenticeship with an overall ‘distinction’ and has been taken on as a learning specialist at the Rush Green campus helping staff with all digital aspects of learning with ideas to improve on them.

Jack's role sees him involved with its courses in science, technology, engineering and maths.