A young man expressed disappointment after being turned down three times for a binman position with the council, despite completing a nine-month unpaid internship. Bryan Rowe, 21, revealed that he had been rejected twice by Southampton City Council, but the council later admitted that the initial rejection was a mistake. Despite being called in for an interview, Mr. Rowe was ultimately not offered the job. He had dedicated nine months from November 2024 to June 2025 working as a lorry loader during a supported internship at the council.

Mr. Rowe, who has ADHD and myotonic dystrophy, a type of muscular dystrophy, had hoped to secure a permanent position after his internship. However, he faced repeated rejections. The council attributed one of the rejections to an error in communication, stating that Mr. Rowe had performed well during his internship.

Following the third rejection, Mr. Rowe’s mother, Claire Rowe, criticized the council’s decision as “cruel and unfair.” She believed that if the council did not see her son as a suitable candidate, they should have been clear about it instead of giving false hopes. Ms. Rowe empathized with her son’s disappointment, expressing frustration over the situation and the impact it had on his confidence and self-worth.

In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council mentioned that they had received a large number of applications for the position and could not discuss individual cases. They assured that the recruitment process was followed diligently and wished all unsuccessful candidates the best in their future endeavors.

Despite feeling disheartened by the rejections, Mr. Rowe remained hopeful and expressed his determination to find suitable employment. His mother raised a formal complaint with the council and was informed that they were reassessing their recruitment procedures to avoid similar issues in the future.