Jose De Sousa came from Madeira to England in 2012 with his young family and began work at Tesco Distribution in Goole, not knowing that this was to be the start of his career progression with the support from Usdaw’s Lifelong Learning initiatives. 

Once inducted with an agency, Jose started pick training like all new starters, later gaining a second skill.  In 2013, after a successful interview, Jose secured a contract with Tesco and later acquired a third skill and Joined Usdaw.

In 2014, Usdaw reps and Tesco agreed to further develop their Lifelong Learning initiative and Jose became one of the new site ULRs.  He immediately developed a passion for the role, demonstrated by his enthusiasm on the ULR training courses at Usdaw’s Leeds office and, once trained, with the setting up of the first English courses onsite. 

Although his English speaking and comprehension was already a good standard Jose chose to take the English courses to improve his skills further, successfully gaining his level 2 English UK qualification.

When the company re-organised its Distribution management structure, Jose felt confident to apply for one of the new roles as a coordinator.  This required him to deploy staff and organise workloads and supply the management teams with the data required to run the shift.  He was very successful and soon took the opportunity to start training as a manager, gradually taking on new responsibilities and gaining valuable experience.

He started his placement on a different shift; working together with a new team, putting him in an ideal position should a role in management become available.   Jose has completed his training and is now a signed off Manager.

Usdaw Divisonal Project Worker Martyn Warwick said:

Jose has been an excellent ULR, with drive passion and enthusiasm.”

He likes to find solutions to problems and this will help him in his new role.  I’m sure he will continue to be both a great example and advocate of learning and development”.

Jose said:

Taking on the role of ULR and gaining my English qualification, really gave me the confidence to realise my aspirations.”

I am passionate about Usdaw’s Lifelong Learning initiatives and will continue to support it in my new management role and actively encourage my colleagues and peers to make full use of the courses on offer”.