Shaw Trust Reviews 358

Let me begin by saying I read all the 200 plus reviews and I can relate to 80% of the 1 star reviews.
As an upper limb amputee I honestly didn't feel understood or listened to.

1000 questions on the first phone call.
I feel as though they are just collecting data and letting an algorithm suggest next steps for the advisor to do next.

Every answer I gave was questioned in a negative way yet they had no knowledge of the daily challenges of having one arm...

The process is frustrating.. Long winded... With no positive feelings or outcome.

The website falsely claims 200k plus jobs in my area whilst there are officially 22k jobs available. In very limited sectors.

I genuinely hoped the shaw Trust would be the Hand I needed.

BUT unfortunately they're literally just another waste of time.

They do not specialise in access to employment for upper limb amputees wanting to work in the heavy goods sector or construction and agriculture.

The whole experience is depressingly unorganised and questionable.

My advisor was phoning me from home with Gary the electrician listening in to the private information and details of our chat.

I thank you for allowing me to at least try to get help but you definitely didn't help me one bit....

I'd also like to note this is not a personal dig at my advisor just my own personal thoughts and feelings.

Regards

I have been working with Alja and she’s wonderful.
She treats me with an empathetic and patient response, I highly recommend her as an employment advisor but also someone that has an understanding of mental health, and works with me to finding employment at my own pace.
She’s encouraging and supportive and I hope she is recognised for this.

I was referred to the Shaw Trust as I was having trouble finding work. Some of the staff nice enough, but I found it a real challenge for them to assist me in looking for work

I can appreciate that they may have busy workloads, but I think it boils down to fundamentals. I didn't feel there was enough effort/support at all - only enough to tick boxes. I was struggling so much that I feel into depressions a couple of times, and I had exhausted their initial program. There could have been more regular meetups, and more in-depth effort been put into the assistance. I find it hard to find work, and require more in depth assistance, and more face to face meetings. The most of times, I received short telephone calls, which was unfortunately useless. It was just a touch base call. A lot of it was just being left to own devices.

After I exhausted the first back to work programme, I was referred to another. Even worse. All done by home workers, and pretty abrupt and one sided way. That one was certainly just to tick boxes, and not assist. That programme was useless, probably to both myself and the colleague. I found I was cornered into attending a slide show online meeting with no care for individuality. Generic doesn't help. Especially with those with disabilities. It should have been tailor made. Extremely disappointed in that one -especially with the rude colleague. There was no room for wanting to hear my thoughts. It may as well have been a robot taking that programme

Pros

The people on the ground are genuinely excellent: capable, humane, and committed to doing the right thing for offenders, often in spite of the organisation rather than because of it. There is real potential to make a meaningful difference, and seeing offenders take steps forward is one of the few consistently rewarding aspects of the role. The locations themselves are fine — prisons are at least honest environments, with clearer rules and fewer illusions than the management culture surrounding the job.

Cons

The role has effectively collapsed into a tick-box exercise where compliance is rewarded, numbers matter more than outcomes, and challenge is treated as misalignment. Despite the rhetoric, this is not a support role but a sales role driven by contractual arithmetic divorced from operational reality. Targets are set by dividing contract figures by headcount, with no regard for complexity, capacity, or human beings, and questioning them — even with evidence — is discouraged.

There is a long-serving “core” that dominates culture and decision-making. New staff exist on the periphery and are expected either to assimilate quickly or leave. Turnover is constant but never acknowledged; people do not resign so much as disappear. Managers are largely invisible, communication flows downwards only, and meetings exist primarily to reinforce alignment rather than solve problems.

Induction is minimal to non-existent. New starters are expected to make it up as they go along, increasing inconsistency, risk, and early attrition. Staff with experience who raise concerns are labelled difficult, while silence is interpreted as professionalism. Loyalty is valued over competence, and wellbeing is addressed mainly through emails rather than structural change.

Management & Culture

Listening is performative rather than real. Values are heavily promoted but weakly lived, and the gap between stated intent and daily practice erodes trust quickly. Frontline staff are held accountable for outcomes they do not control, while operational management remains insulated from scrutiny. Staff leave not because the work is difficult, but because it becomes clear early on that honesty carries risk without reward.

Overall

This organisation delivers socially important work while systematically hollowing out the people best placed to do it well. Meaningful improvement would require not just different behaviours, but the replacement of the current operational management that sustains this system.

This is not a failure of understanding, but a deliberate choice to remain unchanged.

Liars cheats fraudsters, and thats just scraping the surface.

I was with the trust for 8 months during that time we did basic things, such as looking over my cv and applying for roles. In the last month I was made aware and put forward for a careers event to help get me employed. I’m still unemployed and my severe mental conditions have dramatically worsened. Don’t go to this service it’s an absolute waste of tax funding

I have had an amazing adviser called Lauren , she has spent hours listening and helping me , encouraging me to make decisions I find hard , they have been generous with time and highly organised helping me help myself in a way , I am very grateful for the support as I now know the direction I will take .

Incredible staff at Shaw Trust Birmingham. Professional and caring, go above and beyond to help people struggling with employment.
Found my ground after an entire year thanks to the help of great people at this organisation.

Writing my review as a Black woman with mental health and other issues. Feel scammed. I have not been allowed the freedom to choose my own culturally appropriate support. Waste of time

(Today's date of review 18th September 2025)
I regret to express my dissatisfaction regarding my son’s experience with Shaw Trust over the past eight months. While I could elaborate extensively on the challenges faced during this period, I will strive to present a concise overview of the issues encountered.
Shaw Trust initiated a safeguarding case against my son due to alleged difficulties in establishing contact with him. It is important to note that his work experience advisor claimed she was unable to reach him despite the fact that all staff members possessed his contact details, as well as my own. I took the initiative to compile and share correspondence between the advisor and myself with the appropriate personnel, including the manager. Despite numerous emails exchanged to support my position and request a reassignment of my son to a different advisor, progress has been lacking.
I received an email indicating that my son would be assigned to a new advisor, but we have yet to receive any communication from this individual since July-August. Consequently, he missed the opportunity for work experience and encountered issues related to his CSCS card despite successfully completing all training stages in English, mathematics, and construction. Moreover, we were only informed toward the end of August that my son had passed the construction module, which further exacerbated our concerns.
Currently, we are being informed that, in order to obtain his CSCS card, he will need to pursue additional coursework. This situation is both unjust and frustrating, particularly given that my son dedicated significant effort to his training. There were no valid safeguarding concerns, as my son attended all online and onsite classes, except for one or two instances related to his physical condition, of which Shaw Trust has been made aware.
Additionally, it has come to my attention that false information was conveyed regarding a supposed phone call from the work experience advisor. I was present beside my son, awaiting her call, and only received a text suggesting that she had attempted to reach him. After that, we promptly returned her call. Given the lack of adequate support from management and the apparent bias toward staff members in handling this matter, I find myself compelled to pursue a formal complaint.
This experience has been disheartening, and I believe it represents a significant misallocation of time and resources. I would not recommend Shaw Trust to other parents seeking support for their children embarking on their career paths and would advise exploring alternative options.

I have a rare neurological condition and I have never in my adult life received any kind of support for it despite many attempts from myself to seek support. I decided to give Shaw Trust a try as the information on their website looked promising. I spoke to a really lovely man called Mark who enrolled me onto the program. I wish his job role was an advisor because he really got my situation and had positive energy. So I was hopeful that maybe someone could help and support me.

I specifically struggle to pass interview stage which I suspect is due to ableism and this is a common experience with people who have a disability. This is what I needed help with and in my first phone call with my advisor she said she would pass on my notes to the “retention advisor” who would be able to help me solve barriers around interviews. He was going to advise me on legalities and what steps I can take to ensure I get treated fairly.

So the following week my advisor calls me again and was on the phone for less than five minutes. She explained to me that she had spoken to the mental health team and they recommended that I need therapy as I’ve faced long term rejection. I specifically told my advisor that I’ve tried therapy a few times and I didn’t find it helpful. Plus even if I had therapy that still wouldn’t solve the barriers around me getting a job. I stated clearly previously that I wanted practical help and not emotional help. She told me she would email me therapy options that they had available. Despite finding the advice given unhelpful I decided to take a look at the email when it arrived. Surprise surprise I never received it. If I sound negative it’s because I spent a decade on universal credit dealing with similar advisors who promised to help me, but didn’t so I’ve been down this road many times.

Anyway I made the decision to withdraw from the program as I could see where this was all headed, I knew they couldn’t help me. So an hour and a half before my next phone appointment I sent a very polite email to my advisor. I thanked her for her time and help, but stated that Shaw Trust wasn’t aligned with me. I wished her all the best for the future. She didn’t even reply to my email which I found rude. On Shaw Trust’s website it actually says a person can withdraw anytime if the program isn’t for them and they will find a more suitable program for the individual. Surprise surprise that wasn’t offered to me either as I had no response from her. So in my experience I wouldn’t recommend this trust unless you want to be further disheartened by the lack of support for people with disabilities.

I never write reviews like this, but I’m so tired of people gaslighting my experience. I’ve been told many times that employers can’t discriminate so there must be other reasons as to why I’m unable to pass interview stages. The fact that employers legally aren’t able to discriminate is irrelevant because they do. I may have a disability, but that doesn’t render my brain useless. If you are reading this you can see I’m articulate and write well. I have qualifications behind me, I have an above average IQ and I still can’t pass interview stages which proves the decisions aren’t being made based on my intelligence and relevant skills and experience. If you’re reading this and resonate with what I’m saying speak up if you’re able to because we need to speak our truth. Disabled people need better support!.

Marley has been amazingly by and helped me every step of the way. I can’t thank her enough for the kindness she showed me.

Me : Got shortlisted for a job at the Hereford Foodbank, have enquired about studying /teaching/diversifying via Music Technology or other opportunities at the Tech College in Hereford, and have applied for a Music Teaching job at schools in Hereford.

My "Adviser" : "Why do you keep going for these obscure things?"

There are so many more things I could say about The Jobcentre and Shaw Trust being disturbingly unfit for purpose, and seemingly blinded by some sort of profit at all costs by treating people as if they have no say in anything whatsoever, apart from complying with unnecessary authoritarianism, mistrust and negative bias at every turn, but millions of us are well aware that we Never feel like we matter to these apparently helpful organisations, so what purpose do reviews, either good or bad, really serve at this point whilst heads stay stuck in the sand, seeming to believe in the same failed model of treating everybody with contempt, and as if ambition, intelligence and dealing with people with compassion, empathy and integrity are sins these days?

They don't even bother to call or tell me why they broke the promises to call me within two working days, which was stated on their auto reply email after my application. Reading the poor review here, I am glad that they didn't call. Why do they still have ad on Instagram?

My experience was extremely disappointing. My employment adviser was highly unprofessional. He frequently scheduled meetings but failed to show up, sometimes giving a 10-minute notice and other times no notice at all, showing zero respect for my time. Eventually, he just ghosted me completely.
The few meetings that did happen were useless. The adviser only glanced at my CV and offered no real support, guidance or job opportunities. It felt like a complete waste of time.

Shaw Trust is one of the least effective organizations for job progress, especially for individuals with dyslexia. They primarily focus on receiving government funding but do not provide the necessary support to help people return to work and maintain employment.

I have disabilities and the advisor was meant to have 30 minutes a week with me to help me through whilst I was at work and to help keep me in work. However, this ended up being the best of 5 minutes every month. They were meant to help me with staying in work and keeping me well whilst at work and also how to cope. I got nothing out of it.

I've had help,but ì definitely wouldn't recommend. I'm asking for a reference and no one has responded. It means I probably won't be able to start my job

What an amazing experience I had with Shaw Trust. I am currently on the lets talk employment programme. I was very hesitant at first to join the programme as I have been on many before and found them unhelpful.

My advisor was somebody called Sukhjit Dosanjh and from our very first meeting the rapport was incredible. He was very patient with me and took the time to understand the complex nature of my mental health and he showed nothing but respect and encouragement in every meeting. I would annoy him with 10 different versions of my CV but he would call me as soon as he had a chance to go over things and made me feel like I had a friend not just an advisor.

He helped me with interview preparation and even called me on the morning of my interview to say good luck and called me after to ask how it went. I was successful in the role and I cant thank Sukh enough for what he has given me.

I wish I could thank him personally. I know a lot of people in those section have had indifferent experiences but believe me if you get a chance to have an advisor like I had then you wont be let down.

I notice you reply to each and every review on here so could you please make sure Sukhjit receives his praise

I can't speak highly enough of the support I've received from Harminder. He was so understanding and provided constructive advice. He has supported me through some dark times when I found my employment come to a unexpected end. He instilled a vision of stoicism. And made me see I can't change the past only learn from it but don't dwell on it. My initial job search was unproductive. Harminder made me see what I'm capable of and I've had employers phone me as well as being put on the right track to get a job that will make me feel valued. Thank you Shaw trust. I have recommended your services to a number of friends how are struggling moving on from their current job because they are struggling with depression and they think the same treadmill is better than change.