HARD work and dedication has seen a woman secure her dream job at Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Stacey Tait was paying for her own National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) course, but was struggling to secure any meaningful work experience until her landlord stepped in.

The Coast and Country tenant was looking for support at the library in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, when she learnt about its Forging Futures programme.

Once she completed an initial three-week course, she started a six-month work placement in the health of safety department of the social housing group.

The paid placement, which provide tenants with experience of the workplace while they undertake sector-specific training aligned to the current jobs market, helped her secure her role at the fire brigade.

She said: “I gained a lot from my placement at Coast & Country, so much more than I ever thought I could in the short space of just six months. I worked with a fantastic and supportive team alongside my mentor, who helped me develop the practical skills I needed to be able to progress to the next step in my career.

“When I applied for the position at Cleveland Fire Brigade, the team helped me with the application process and gave me some crucial interview tips. I am over the moon to have secured full time employment in the career I wanted and I couldn’t have done it without the help and experience that Forging Futures gave me.”

Paul Smith, health and safety manager at Coast & Country added: “Stacey passed her exams and gained her qualifications during her six-month placement with us. During which time she was a huge asset to the department and it was a pleasure to be able to mentor her.”