Joanne Robinson: From Redundancy to a Rewarding Career
After 27 years of continuous employment, primarily with Next, Joanne Robinson's life changed dramatically when she was made redundant in 2024. To add to the challenge, her husband also lost his job at the same time.
Having left school at 16 and worked throughout her adult life, Joanne had never considered education or training as a way to progress her career. However, faced with an uncertain future, she decided to embrace a new opportunity and joined Skills for Work in 2025.
Working with the Skills for Work team, Joanne received guidance and support to help her identify a new career path and build the skills and confidence needed to achieve her goals. Through her commitment and determination, she successfully completed an impressive range of courses, including:
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Skills Bootcamp Teaching Assistant
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Level 2 Teaching Assistant
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Level 3 Teaching Assistant
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Functional Skills Maths Level 2
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Basic Food Hygiene
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Level 2 Environmental Sustainability
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CV Workshop and Interview Techniques
Through her learning, Joanne gained valuable knowledge in safeguarding, SEND, school legislation, policies and procedures, as well as developing practical job search and interview skills. She also increased her understanding of environmental sustainability and renewable energy.
As part of her journey, Joanne undertook a work placement at Fagley Primary School, supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The experience gave her valuable hands-on experience and confirmed she had found a career she was passionate about.
Her dedication and hard work paid off when, in July 2026, she secured a role as a Teaching Assistant at St John's Primary School in Bradford.
What makes Joanne's story particularly inspiring is her willingness to embrace change and learn from past challenges. Through self-reflection, resilience and determination, she developed the confidence to pursue a completely new career path and create a brighter future for herself.
Today, Joanne says her life has "a new direction, meaning and purpose." Her journey demonstrates that it is never too late to learn new skills, build confidence and achieve a rewarding career.
"What started as a difficult period in my life has led me to a role that I genuinely love and a future I am excited about." – Joanne Robinson
Joanne's story is a powerful example of how learning can transform lives, turning redundancy into opportunity and helping people discover a new sense of purpose and achievement.