Participant, Workable
Being happy at work is so rewarding, just ask Peter!
Case Study: Peter –
Building confidence, skills and community through the right opportunity
Placement & Employment Success at McDonald’s Glengormley
Meet Peter!
Peter self-referred to Orchardville after completing college and gaining some initial work experience through a scheme at Marks & Spencer. While this placement gave him a taste of employment, the role wasn’t the right fit. It involved mainly front-facing shelf work, and Peter often found himself working alone — something he didn’t enjoy.
Working together, Orchardville completed a discovery document with Peter to better understand his strengths, interests and ambitions. It quickly became clear that Peter thrives on challenge and enjoys interacting with people, particularly in busy, customer-focused environments.
With this in mind, Orchardville reached out to McDonald’s Glengormley, conveniently located close to Peter’s home. Ryan, the store’s management team member, welcomed the opportunity to meet and discuss how the project could work — marking the start of Peter’s employment journey.
Finding the Right Fit
Peter began a customer service role trial at McDonald’s, where his responsibilities included:
- Engaging with customers
- Keeping the dining area clean and welcoming
- Ensuring children’s activity packs were fully stocked
The trial was designed to give Peter real, meaningful experience in a supportive environment. From the outset, Peter impressed the team with his enthusiasm, confidence and ability to connect with customers.
Although the trial was planned for 12 weeks, Peter’s performance exceeded expectations. At eight weeks, the decision was made to end the trial early, as Ryan was keen to officially welcome Peter into the team and involve him more fully in the community side of the business.
To support Peter’s development, a practice interview was carried out to give him experience of a formal recruitment process — even though the job was already secured as a result of his successful working trial.
Sustained Employment and Ongoing Support
Peter’s hours were carefully agreed to ensure there was no financial impact, and he started work two days per week with consistent, set days and hours. Since then, Peter has continued to grow in confidence, develop his skills and expand his role within the team.
He remains supported through Workable, ensuring both Peter and his employer receive the guidance needed for long-term success.
The Outcome
Peter’s journey shows what’s possible when employment is built around the individual — their strengths, interests and goals. With the right support and an inclusive employer, Peter has found not just a job, but a place where he belongs.
Well done, Peter — a brilliant achievement and a bright future ahead!
If you or someone you know would like more information on how SkillSET or Workable can provide the opportunity to gain employment with our support, contact our Employment Team referrals@orchardville.com, or telephone 028 9073 2326.
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