For over three decades, Abdi has lived in London. Abdi previously worked as a self-employed food delivery driver for Uber Eats. However, in April 2024, he experienced a severe setback due to a cycling accident during a delivery. This incident resulted in significant injuries, including broken front teeth and damage to his nose and face, leaving him unable to continue his delivery work. As a result, Abdi was unemployed for over a year.

Despite the accident, Abdi demonstrated remarkable resilience by relocating to Birmingham in September 2024, seeking a new beginning. His challenges were compounded by his limited proficiency in English (ESOL Entry Level 3) and minimal digital skills, which hindered his job search efforts.

In January 2025, Abdi joined the Restart Scheme with Ingeus, where he was introduced to his advisor, Sana. Recognising his struggles, Sana provided support, including arranging job sessions with John, an internal trainer for Ingeus, to enhance his employability prospects. She also guided him through the basics of using email and applying for jobs online.

Understanding Abdi's apprehension about returning to delivery work, Sana, with the support of the Serco EST team, assisted him in exploring alternative employment opportunities in warehouses and factories. She connected Abdi with Employer Account Manager, James, who introduced Abdi to a cleaning position with OCS.

In early May, Abdi attended an interview and was subsequently offered a casual worker position, starting that month. Abdi expressed immense gratitude to Sana for her assistance with computer skills and online job applications, and James for his support in securing employment. Well done Abdi!