First Step Trust (FST) was established over 30 years ago to support people excluded from traditional forms of education, training and jobs because of issues such as anxiety, addiction recovery and poor literacy.

Through work placements, on-the-job training and salaried employment, FST provides the tools for people to gain practical experience in the motor industry while building their confidence in a safe, supportive environment.

Training includes the Virtual Garage 10 Module Programme where people can learn tasks such as fitting tyres and changing brakes by using ‘virtual’ technology before moving on to the real thing at FST’s SMaRT garage in Woolwich.

SMaRT (Sociallly Minded and Responsible Training) is a commercial garage that provides a service to the public alongside on-the-job training so people can earn Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) qualifications.

Ronnie Wilson MBE, CEO and one of the original founders of FST, said: “FST was set up because we recognised that there are people with talent but no means of demonstrating it because they were disadvantaged.

“If you don’t have a lot of skills because you’ve not been able to function in the system for a variety of reasons then you end up unemployed or in mundane jobs.

“The whole idea is to help folk to develop within our employment framework, rather than a social care framework, and treat them with the same expectations and support that a decent employer would.”

Impact:

Through its partnership with Halfords, six of FST’s trainees recently secured apprenticeships.

Many of the workforce have also joined FST in full-time employment.

Former trainee Laura Giri now leads the Virtual Garage programme and has been shortlisted for The Automotive 30% Club’s ‘Inspiring Automotive Women Awards’ which recognises trailblazing women in roles traditionally occupied by men.

Ronnie said: “We’ve constantly evolved our business model to provide a range of opportunities and are always working to develop accessible ways for folks to learn marketable skills.”

FST has been a customer at Unity since it was founded in 1994.

Ronnie said: “We’ve banked with Unity since the beginning because it was a trade union bank that supported folk to get a better quality of life.

“The voluntary sector needs a bank to that takes an active interest in what it does and we have got that with Unity and our Relationship Manager Philippa Moors. I would absolutely recommend Unity to any organisation.”