Dan’s the man who can!

Losing his job was a major frustration for Dan Shimwell, from Redcar. He was only a couple of years away from retirement but had hoped to keep on working and earning money until then. Dan’s strong work ethic meant he’d spent most of his adult life in employment – and he didn’t want to stop just yet. So the 63-year-old signed up to the Restart Scheme, delivered by Triage in Redcar, for tailored support to find a job.

Commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, Triage delivers the Restart Scheme in the North East on behalf of Reed in Partnership. Under the programme, advisers from Triage offer guidance to help people find a job they’ll want to keep. Employment adviser Shantelle Thornhill immediately got to work developing a robust CV for Dan. She also helped him identify job vacancies he could apply for based on his previous experience, taking into consideration his health conditions.

However, Dan had a dream of setting up his own collection and delivery service business. After he told Shantelle about his enterprising idea, she arranged for him to speak to Triage self-employment adviser Steph Campbell. Using his own funds, Dan purchased a large transit van and arranged the appropriate insurances for his new removal business. Dan launched his business, the snappily titled VAN MAN DAN, and Triage supported him with marketing techniques. Dan was encouraged to use a range of online platforms including Facebook, Google and Gumtree, which he had been unaware of previously.

Dan is now very proactive online and is loving the flexibility his new business provides. He enjoys chatting to customers and arranging bookings to suit their needs. Dan says: “Thank you to all the supportive people that have helped me find my way into doing something that I really enjoy. Providing my local VAN MAN DAN service means that I get to help people out and meet and engage with those in the community that I wouldn’t have otherwise met. Word of mouth and positive recommendations are getting my message out there as well as a great response from the online marketing.

“I am a people person and can connect with folks of all ages, so doing this kind of work at my own pace doesn’t feel like a bind or a job that you have to do,” Dan adds. "It’s the kind of work that I am happy to do. When you’re happy in your work, you won’t feel like you work another day in your life!”

It’s so rewarding to see Dan driving around town, providing a valuable service to the local community. Even though he could retire in a couple of years, Dan loves his business so much that he plans to continue trading. Now there’s a phenomenal work ethic!