From first shift to contract: Inside Torque’s Get into Supply Chain programme

For Daniel, from Leeds, that outcome would have been hard to picture just a few weeks earlier. “I hadn’t worked in a warehouse before,” he says. “Some things were difficult at the start, just getting used to it and getting into a proper routine.”

Referred by the Jobcentre, Daniel joined the programme seeking an opportunity to gain experience. What followed was a fast-moving introduction to warehouse operations.

He began by picking, one of the core operational processes.“That was the hardest part for me,” he says. “I’ve got dyspraxia, so coordination can be a bit of a challenge. It took time to get used to the movement and the process, and using the scanners.”

Both The King’s Trust and the team at Torque were aware of this from the outset, and support was built around it. Expectations remained the same, but with the understanding and flexibility needed to give Daniel space to learn the role properly.

“I still had to do the work,” he says. “But I was given a bit more time where I needed it. I felt supported.”

Like many participants, the early stages were focused on adjustment. To the pace, systems, and the expectations of a real workplace.

But that transition is exactly where the programme starts to deliver. Over time it got easier,” Daniel says. “Now I’ve done picking, box making, sortation, and returns. You start to understand how everything works together.”

 

Building skills that translate beyond the warehouse

While technical capability is a key outcome, the biggest shift often happens in behaviour and routine.

For Daniel, it was reliability. “Timekeeping has been a big one,” he says. “Before, I’d just leave enough time to get a bus. Now I plan properly and give myself time. It’s more like a proper working routine.”

That change is reflected across the cohort.

Participant feedback highlights consistent improvements in punctuality, resilience and adaptability:

• “I’m proud of being consistently here on time and punctual.”
• “I’m proud of improving my time management and after shift routine.”
• “I am proud of working in a team and working under pressure.”
• “I’m proud of sticking with it and trying new things.”

Alongside this, participants are building practical, job-ready skills:

• “I have learnt key skills… such as effectively finding and picking goods.”
• “I have learnt how to use new advanced tech.”
• “One positive is that everything is structured and has a convenient process.”
• “I’m getting confident that I’m getting the processes correct.”

Together, these shifts in behaviour, confidence and competence are what enable progression into employment.

Learning in a real working environment

A key difference in Torque’s approach is that participants are not working in a simulated setting. They are integrated into the operations, contributing to real contracts alongside experienced teams.

That exposure accelerates both learning and confidence. “It’s given me a proper insight into what happens in a warehouse,” says Daniel. “There’s a lot more going on than you think, but everything works well. The systems are good, and everything fits together.”

Participants also point to the environment as a key factor:

• “The people at Torque are very approachable and nice to talk to.”
• “A peak for me has been working with other people.”
• “I have loved meeting new people.”

Support structures, including the buddy system, help bridge the gap between training and real work. Giving participants a clear point of contact and building confidence early on.

A spokesperson from ME+EM, the customer that Daniel was placed on notes:

“We are delighted to support Torque with the important work they are doing with The King’s Trust. We wish all of those who are starting their careers at Torque the best for the future.”