Testimonials

Here are some commendations that I have received from past work.

 From support services that I have worked in partnership with

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Matt Stafford

I have known Matt for over a year and worked in partnership with him on the Department of Work and Pensions Pathways to Work Program, which supports people with health related difficulties to return to work.  I spent a period of time working with Matt in the RBLI office and could witness first hand the excellent work that he did.   My role was to interview new referrals and I often found it pleasing to see how far the clients progressed with Matt’s support.  I also know that Matt helped many of his clients to find suitable employment.  Matt always came across as an inventive thinker who was always willing to go the extra mile and I wish him all the best in the future.

Kind regards

Dale Southfield

Assistant Adviser

Canterbury Jobcentre Plus

In my capacity as Learndirect Host Centre Manager, NVQ Assessor and as a SEEDA Redundancy Support Service Advisor, I worked extensively with Matt for a number of years in his capacity as a Recruitment Manager and Welfare to Work Advisor. I found him approachable, committed and professional, and with his help, we managed to support and guide hundreds of clients into training, paid work or alternative provision under the auspices of a strict, audited, and national quality frameworks such as Matrix.

He has a proven track record as a job coach and I would recommend him without hesitation.

Ken Baughan

Junior Group Administrator

Matt and I worked in partnership to support a number of my clients. He was always the first person I would think of to refer and ask for advice because of his level of support and knowledge. The guidance that he gave to me and our clients was so helpful and this included, being proactive and contacting employers, CV and careers advice etc . We acheived many positive results from working together.  The clients really felt that Matt gave them 100% all the time and they could trust and rely on Matt to get the best outcomes tailored to them. I would definitely refer to Matt for support and guidance for my clients and for myself. 

Hanna Goodman Chaucer Home Care’s  Employment Support Services, Canterbury

 From Client’s that I have helped

 

 

I met Matt at the lowest point in my life. 18months on and I’m still grateful for his calm good sense. The practical advice he gave me still informs my thinking. His positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm showed me how to appreciate my strengths and manage my shortcomings. Most of all his warmth and care helped me start to believe in myself again.

Best Wishes

Brigid

To whom this letter concerns.

Having been unfortuanately diagnosed with a Spinal disease in 2009, I was in the position of not being able to work having been working in the railway industry for 17 years.

I was given the opportunity to attend the RBLI back to work scheme and I attended 6 meetings with Mr Matt Stafford,These meetings were a great help to me and I was made to feel at home by Matt straight away.

We had 6 really interesting and helpful meetings as agreed by the job centre,Matt put me at ease and although I was feeling low he was always confident in me as a person and helped me realise I could still get back to work.

Although my original meetings had finished a few weeks later Matt emailed me to see how I was getting on, we agreed I could continue to attend meetings as and when a date was free.

How glad I was because Matt went over and above his duties to see me and organised meetings with business advisors for me and to see if I could get funding etc to start my own Mural/art business.

Without Matt’s help and input I would not be in the position to do this of which I am so greatfull.

I would recommend Matt to anybody who needs help getting back into work or setting up on their own,

His business advice was second to none and basically an all round need to help people get back on their feet was his ultimate goal and I’m glad he was my original advisor who went that extra mile with me.

 Regards

 Andy Chamberlain.

( Mainlymurals )

To whom it may concern

Starting as one of Matt’s mandatory clients I found that he was an excellent person to get along with and very easy to talk to. He helped me to look for a job and I soon found one. He then signed me off as a mandatory client and put on as a voluntary client.

 Since then I still attend RBLI as I found the help he gave me was invaluable and I was always greeted with a happy and polite manner, and also offered a drink each time. Matt helped me to plan how to start up my own business. I am now running my own business and am having much success with this.

 Over all Matt is a great person to know and work with, who will go out of his way to help his clients with anything they may need. He will offer any advice where needed or contact someone that will be able to advise his clients. 

 Mark Gaffney

Letter of Reccomendation

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is with great privelege that I write to you in reccomendation of Matt Stafford.  Until recently, Matt has been my Personal Employment Advisor.  I have found him to be a pleasant, generous person who is always willing to go the extra mile to help. Matt worked with me for nearly two years to help me gain permanent employment (even in these economically difficult times), prior to this I had been out of work for 6 years after illness.

Matt was very understanding and knowledgable of all matters regarding recruitment, whilst also encouraging me to seek employment, especially after unsuccessful interviews.  He also  helped me with my confidence by enrolling me to do some work experience in his office.

I can clearly state that had it not been for Matt’s help and advice, I would probably still be looking for work now.  It is with great pleasure that I write to you in reccomendation of Matt Stafford.  He is a honest, caring individual who will make an extremely valuable asset to any organisation.

Sebastian Chiaramello BA (Hons)

To whom it mau concern

I wish to submit a statement concerning the help and support I received from Matt Stafford.

I was reffered to Matt when I was unemployed due to heart problems and undergoing surgery in September 2008.  I had been out of work on and off for 2 years and my self confidence had taken a knock.

When explained why I had been reffered to him and what service he could offer me..I accepted and voluntarily came to the appointments.  He helped me to understand the benefits entitlement and get a job.

Matt was enthusiastic and helped me build my self confidence by talking to me about my qualifications, what I did in my spare time and giving me positive verbal feedback.  He helped me to update my CV and e-mailed it to employers that he  thought would be interested.  He identified a job that I would never have had the confidence to apply for, but realised it would be perfect for me and explained why.  I applied for the job and he offered help through the process of applying and helped me put together a presentation for the interview.

I got the job and have been working for almost a month.  I really enjoy the job and it has opened up a lot of opportunities for me to develop both personally and proffesionally.  When I got the job Matt sent me congratulations which is indicative of his attitude to his job.

In conclusion, Matt treated me with respect.  He asked me the right questions and identified the help that I needed and made the whole process enjoyable. 

I feel very lucky he was there to help me when I felt the wider society had forgotten me.

sincerely

Seana

Back in January 2010 I started receiving support from Matt whilst he was working at Pathways to Work.
Things hadn’t been going to well for me, I had been off work since 2002 after years of personal problems including misuse of drugs and alcohol and traumatic experiences that had taken their toll.
I quit using drugs in 2002 but suffered with depression and anxiety.
Between then and 2010 I was receiving therapy and had also attended various courses in order to help me get back in to work, this included Maths and English and also a Computer Aided Design course. Unfortunately after completing the latter in late 2009 I was struck down with a chest infection that put my progress in to reverse. On top of that I was suffering a relationship problem that made me feel like I was in a bottomless pit.
Things changed the moment I had my appointment with Matt, he helped lower my fears and helped boost my confidence. I was able to have the opportunity of learning new ways to deal with finding employment and coping with various scenarios, and also provided with lots of encouragement and motivation.
Admittedly I’ve had a tendency to lack confidence and underestimate myself in life, Matt helped me to break that pattern, he also encouraged me to broaden my horizons and thanks to his motivation I started doing voluntary work helping others learn computer skills, this not only helped me get back in to a routine but also built up my confidence. Matt also gave me the opportunity to help others attending Pathways how to use a computer and upon observation put forward the idea that I look in to teaching as paid work.
The idea of teaching had never crossed my mind and I never would have had the confidence to even attempt had it not been for Matt. We looked in to it and after contacting Adult Education I enrolled on to the necessary course. Upon completion I was lucky enough to have a chance encounter with one of my tutor’s colleagues and after discussing what I would like to do, I was offered an interview during which I was offered the job there and then. I will be starting in September and whilst waiting I have been on two courses one of which I have passed and completed, the other almost finished and will hopefully enable me to teach the subjects and provide me with a promising career, of which I know 100% would not have happened if it wasn’t for the help and support from Matt!
I’d highly recommend contacting Matt for more information, I will say however that despite his great work and encouragement he isn’t a miracle worker, no one is! He will put a lot of effort in to helping you but at the same time you also have to want to improve your life. If you want that, he’s someone you can rely on!

Mark

 From my previous employment

I had the pleasure of working with Matt for two years. He is a very supportive person who I watched change many peoples lives just by believing in them and getting them to believe in themselves. He is very focused on the individual and see’s their strengths and helps them to build on it. You give Matt the tools and show him that you are keen to go into work, follow his suggestions and have faith in what he is doing, then you won’t go far wrong. Matt I wish you well in your venture and would like to thank you for the support you gave me during our working time together. Good Luck my friend.
Angela B. (la la)

‘Matthew was a loyal and conscientious employee who demonstrated excellent communication skills, sales ability and a strong aptitude for coaching’

previous Recruitment employment