Rhyannon Burt

Rhyannon was 20 years old when she joined the DFN Project SEARCH programme with phs group, Caerphilly in September 2022.

Before joining the programme, Rhyannon had been applying for jobs via the Job Centre but having left college without many qualifications, she struggled to get any interviews.

Rhyannon says she was very shy at the start of the programme, “I was the quiet one in the corner that they had to coax out.”

During her second rotation in Customer Service, Rhyannon worked closely with the Contracts Processing team. The manager of that team, John, spotted Rhyannon’s attention to detail and offered her a rotation in his department.

Rhyannon says “I was the first intern to do a rotation in Contracts Processing. I think it’s safe to say John did not regret taking me on as he offered me a level 2 customer service apprenticeship a few months later.”

Rhyannon completed her apprenticeship in July 2024 and has secured a full-time, permanent position in the fast-paced Contracts Processing department.

This year, Rhyannon mentored a Project SEARCH intern during their rotation. “It was surreal, I used to be this lost lamb and now I am the one mentoring someone.”

When asked about her future plans, Rhyannon said, “I am very happy with my current position but I am considering a level 3 apprenticeship in customer service as a way to progress.”

Rhyannon says “I know it’s cliché, but Project SEARCH literally changed my life. I am now able to pay toward household bills but for me the most important thing is the changes I’ve seen in myself.”