Safia Altaf won the “Skills for Life Award” at the Skills for London Awards, presented by Lee McQueen at Madame Tussauds last night.

Before coming to City Gateway Safia Altaf lacked self-confidence and was struggling to find work. She had tried to find employment but couldn’t do so.

She began to study IT with City Gateway and began to develop professional skills. The SO2 funding provided Safia with Information Advice and Guidance support during her initial courses with City Gateway. The SO2 funding also enabled Safia to benefit from the courses corporate support. Attending HR workshops in the city with the organisations partnerships Safia grew in self-confidence. She also attended life skills classes as well as employability sessions developing an understanding of how to approach employers for work. On an insight tour with Denton Wilde Sapte, a prestigious law firm that partners with City Gateway, Safia Altaf impressed a number of DWS’ staff. They spoke well of her achievements on her SO2 funded programme of IAG support at a practice interview with the firm that they invited her in for a real position.  

Safia Altaf now works for DWS whilst furthering her study in IT at City Gateway as an apprentice. She has has truly come a long way.