This story reflects one person’s journey of building confidence, skills and belonging after arriving in Edinburgh.
I came to Edinburgh in 2024 to accompany my wife, who is pursuing her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, and to help take care of our young daughter.
It was not an easy decision to choose this life path, but I believe the experience of living in the stunning city of Edinburgh will be invaluable.
“It was not an easy decision, but I believed the experience of living in Edinburgh would be invaluable.”
Challenges in job searching
My early months in Edinburgh were marked by real struggles to secure a job that suited me. I realised that I did not have the certificates or qualifications commonly required to get a job here, and my spoken English – especially understanding the Scottish accent – was very limited.
However, instead of becoming frustrated, I tried to keep my mindset positive. I believed there would be ways to overcome these challenges.
How The Welcoming Association helped
The Welcoming has been central to my journey, guiding me and supporting my development across many aspects of my life.
I joined The Welcoming’s GROW programme, where I learned many crucial topics related to finding work, including understanding the job ecosystem in Edinburgh. Following suggestions from the programme, I took on volunteer roles, including supporting older people and helping at events for people affected by Alzheimer’s.
Alongside this, I joined several English classes at The Welcoming to improve my language skills.
The Welcoming also supported me through a difficult personal experience. I received an offer to work as an IT assistant for a senior artist in Edinburgh, but unfortunately, the artist experienced memory difficulties, and I had to stop the work. With the support and encouragement of my employment adviser, I was able to keep going rather than give up.
The support I received shaped my professional journey in ways that felt like a dream come true. The Welcoming organised an information session about working at Greggs. I attended the workshop, applied for the role, and was delighted to be offered the job.
“The Welcoming supported me during difficult moments and encouraged me to keep going.”
Working at Greggs
I enjoy working at Greggs very much. The happiness I feel when customers are satisfied with my service is difficult to put into words. While I do not have family working there, Greggs feels like “my family”.
The company gives me space to grow and genuinely cares about my personal life, offering flexible working hours that allow me to attend a university short course and manage childcare when needed. My daughter is proud of me and calls me “Papa Greggs” and “Super Greggs”.
Through this role, I have learned how to provide excellent customer service, manage my time effectively, and communicate more confidently in a workplace environment. My listening and speaking skills, particularly understanding the local accent, have improved significantly. For me, that progress is extremely important.
I am grateful to work for a company that values flexibility, inclusivity, professional development and personal growth.
Advice for others
My advice is simple: keep learning and keep trying. None of us can choose where we were born, the colour of our skin, or our natural abilities, but we can choose to never give up.
Push your limits. Life becomes meaningful not when it is only about ourselves, but when we dedicate it to supporting others – our families, friends, colleagues, customers and communities. I believe life should shine and bring positive energy to others, like a candle.
“I believe life should shine and bring positive energy to others, like a candle.”
A Word from Greggs
“He showed early on his ability to build trust with his team, and that trust works both ways.”
“He has never been phased by how busy the role can be or how long the queue is. It’s a demanding job at times, but he embraced that from the start.”
“He is brilliant at supporting other shops in the area.”
“The main challenge at first was language, as customers can speak very fast, but over time he adjusted extremely well.”
Stories like this reflect what can happen when people are given the right support, encouragement and space to grow. Through employability programmes, volunteering opportunities and English classes, The Welcoming supports New Scots to build confidence, develop skills and find meaningful ways to participate in life in Edinburgh. Each journey is different, but the aim is always the same – helping people move forward at their own pace and feel part of the city they now call home.
Find out more about our Employment Support Service here.