Here at Transform Lives Company (TLC), we’re still reflecting on what an incredible weekend we had supporting our participants at The Grand National Festival.
Watching them transform before our eyes as they moved from being TLC participants to becoming valued members of the Clean Event team.
‘Soft skills’ are often talked about, but essential skills feels like a more fitting phrase. Over the course of the festival, we saw these skills and qualities in abundance: confidence, resilience, teamwork, communication and adaptability.
Building confidence, one step at a time
Day one began at Liverpool Central Station, where we met our ESOL participants. Many were not used to travelling across the city by train, so the plan was to ease them in gently. By Saturday, the aim was for them to feel confident enough to travel independently. This shared journey also helped the group build connections with one another before their first shift.
Once on site at the racecourse, two TLC staff were present throughout the day to offer encouragement and support. For some participants, this was their first-ever job, and let’s face it, the Grand National is a big first step into employment. We wanted to support that transition from participant to employee, helping nerves turn into confidence.
Support, resilience and the right people
Being on site meant we could walk the grounds and check in regularly with the team. At one point, we spoke with a participant who was just about to have a wobble. A quick pep talk from TLC staff, alongside encouragement from a brilliant supervisor, was all he needed to steady himself and carry on.
Matching participants with the right supervisors has been one of the key strengths of this partnership. We know our participants well, and Clean Event know their teams — together, that understanding allows us to place the right people in the right environments.
The weather also tested everyone’s resilience; this wasn’t just April showers, there was wind and even hail - but every time we checked in, the team were smiling and pushing on.
By the end of the day, they were tired but happy. We travelled back together on the train, and the group who hadn’t known each other that morning now had a WhatsApp group, sharing stories from the day and debating what takeaway to have when they got home (a very well‑deserved one!). Seeing them overcome challenges, laugh together and form new friendships was the highlight of the day, because that’s what a real work environment is all about.
Growing into the role
Day two brought busier crowds, but the team took it in their stride. The growth in confidence was clear to see. One participant who had struggled in the cloakroom on day one was absolutely smashing it on day two - a completely different person.
Again, we carried out our regular check‑ins, offered encouragement, and liaised with Clean Event to see if there was anything we could reinforce. But everything was running smoothly. The participants were becoming every bit the Clean Event staff we had hoped they would be. The positive feedback from supervisors was shared with the team, and you could visibly see the impact that recognition had.
What was especially heart‑warming was watching participants support one another and step in when someone needed a boost. That’s not a skill you can teach, it comes from shared experience and genuine connection.
The big day: Grand National Saturday
Day three was the big one Grand National Day. The atmosphere was electric as the race approached. This time, we found ourselves needed less and less for pep talks; the team were now fully fledged Clean Event staff, wearing their uniforms with pride.
During one break, a conversation between an ESOL participant and a participant from another TLC project revealed that they’d become friends. They were teaching each other Spanish and English and discovered a shared love of playing the guitar. These moments show how workplace opportunities create connections that go far beyond surface‑level conversation.
At the end of the shift, we asked the team to describe their experience in just one word. The answers said it all:
Amazing. Rewarding. Achievement. Stupendous. Exciting.
A lasting impact
As the final day came to an end, we watched participants leave walking a little taller and feeling more confident — each carrying new skills, real work experience, new friendships, and stories they can share in future interviews.
The cherry on the cake? Seeing one of our ESOL participants heading off next door for a traditional roast at Toby Carvery. If that’s not getting involved in English culture, we don’t know what is!
Mark Dulson, Clean Event's Venue Presentation Contract Manager says
"Looking back on another Grand National that TLC supported us on and it was great to see so many success stories with your participants. Seeing them join us a little shy, nervous and anxious but grow so much was a very proud moment. Some have even continued on a journey with us and are looking towards now supporting the operation at Chester racecourse over the very busy summer period.
With participants from all over the world and with different backgrounds some of these may not have found work without your support with this.
From working in cloakrooms, working inside the buildings and also part of the external team all found the right role for them.
We look forward to this partnership growing even stronger, we appreciated your support helping the participants settle in. We would encourage other employers to get involved."
What happens next?
Fourteen of our participants gained employment through this opportunity. Those who wish to continue working with Clean Event have been offered further shifts, and for those who joined us purely for the experience, we’ll continue to support them on their journey into work.
We cannot thank Clean Event enough for working alongside us to create meaningful employment opportunities. It’s partnerships like this, built on trust and shared values that truly make a difference.
Already looking forward to next year!
Could you be a guaranteed interview employer, and make a difference? If you have vacancies coming up and would like to save time, money and the headache of recruitment, then please get in touch with Transform Lives Company -