Umay Nadeem was one of 15 M&S colleagues to attend the M&S and The King’s Trust Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons.
Umay, from the Pudsey Owlcotes store, has worked at M&S for over three years after enrolling in the Marks & Start scheme in April 2021 as part of the government’s Kickstart initiative.
Marks & Start is an employability scheme run in partnership with The King’s Trust designed to help create a clear, accessible route into work – in retail or elsewhere – for young people who are at a disadvantage in their job hunt.
Umay credits her role at M&S for bringing the best of everyday ‘little moments’. From rescuing a bride’s makeup disaster to cherishing heartfelt Christmas cards, Umay’s days are filled with rewarding customer interactions and always finds something that makes her smile each day.
One of the standout moments of Umay’s career was when she was invited to the 2023 International Women’s Day Ideathon and was asked to address the guests. Umay supressed her nerves and spoke about her personal experiences at M&S and how the Marks & Start programme has given her so much in terms of self-growth.
Launched in 2004, Marks & Start has supported over 12,000 young people facing barriers to work, through M&S’ partnership with The King’s Trust.
Umay said: “Battling poor mental health since childhood, and coming to terms with being neurodivergent, added barriers to everyday tasks such as job interviews that seemed impossible.
“But the Marks & Start scheme offered the support I didn’t even know I needed. The confidence-building, and care helped me understand my worth. Marks & Start isn’t just an employability programme — it’s a lifeline. It’s not giving young people a job, it’s giving young people the chance to change their lives, find their purpose, and contribute to society.”
Claire Smith, Store Manager at M&S Pudsey, said: “We’re so proud of how far Umay has come since she joined us at M&S Pudsey. She is such a great addition to our team and always comes to work with a smile on her face.
“It’s been fantastic to see her learn so much during her time here and grow in confidence so much. It’s been a delight to work alongside Umay and long may it continue!”
M&S has committed to train and support almost 2,000 more young people through its Marks & Start programme over the next three years as part of an ambitious muti-year strategy with The King’s Trust.
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