What we do

"Rabiah studied Food Science in London then worked in the field. She moved from London to Cardiff to take care of her parents and struggled to find a job in her sector. After almost 2 years, her job applications remained unsuccessful, she started applying for different sectors and was still unsuccessful and didn’t know what to do next. Rabiah attended a job event organised by Into Work Advice Service and was referred to get a mentoring support. From summer 2025, she had weekly appointments and with her mentor and built her tool kit, understanding how to do an efficient job search and learning about Cardiff job market, the trainings, the apprenticeships and volunteering. Her confidence gradually came back and she felt empowered. She was ready to open up her job search to Customer Service or Administration to be financially independent and have new work experience in the Cardiff area, keeping her initial Food Science training and experience as a long-term project. As she was eager to get into employment quickly, her mentor suggested to attend the Cnect one-week pre-employment training comprehensive one-week training program designed to equip unemployed individuals with essential customer service skills. Covering everything from effective communication techniques to dealing with difficult customers, our training ensures that participants are prepared to excel in a customercentric environment, thus bridging the gap between skilled individuals and vacant positions in the customer service industry. The week’s training includes an interview with Cnect members for a live role within the industry, the course started at the beginning of September 2025. The interview on this occasion was with Legal & General and after the initial interview, was then invited to an assessment centre and thereafter offered a full-time permanent Customer Service Advisor position. Rabiah had been advised that this could be a wait prior to starting, having to go through their administration processes with it being in the finance sector but she was ready for the challenge. She started working on the 3rd November 2025. She is grateful for her mentor’s support but also for the Cnect training she attended. Rabiah Idrees - Referred through ‘Into Work Advice Service’ She appreciated the training as the trainer Andrew Ashby who is also a life coach was very knowledgeable and supportive and gave the tools, valuable advice and the little encouragement that she needed prior to the interview. "

"Being part of the Cnect Wales forum has exposed me to greater industry insight, the opportunity to help share best practise across our wonderful businesses across Wales and help shape & influence meaningful contributions to supporting the communities we serve."

"The Cnect Wales Mentorship Programme was an invaluable experience that directly delivered on my development objectives. My initial goal was to significantly enhance my business acumen and strategic understanding of diverse industry models, and the mentorship absolutely fulfilled this. Learning directly from my mentor's career journey - their successes, challenges, and key decisions - provided a masterclass in effective leadership. I gained crucial insights into their approach to problem-solving and their decision-making frameworks, which have broadened my strategic viewpoint. The entire process was focused and goal-oriented, allowing me to generate genuinely actionable insights that I have already begun to adapt and apply directly to my role at Capital on Tap. This mentorship was a powerful catalyst for professional growth, and I highly recommend the Cnect Wales Mentoring Programme."