Disabled get extra help to find a job (From This Is Wiltshire)

CARILLION is widening its partnership with a local social enterprise to help more people with learning or physical disabilities gain employment.

The facilities management company which employs the support staff at the Great Western Hospital , has been working with SEQOL energy2work since 2011 but is now expanding its work experience opportunities.

Carillion has a team of almost 400 people at the GWH, including catering, cleaning and building maintenance staff and they have given presentations at regular workshop sessions for SEQOL clients to pass on their knowledge on how to approach job applications and the skills that employers are looking for.

They have also carried out mock interviews.

In addition, Carillion has offered site visits to candidates to allow them to learn about the different type of jobs available with it and other organisations.

By this time next year Carillion estimates approximately 100 SEQOL clients will have benefited from advice or training opportunities through the partnership.

Carillion has now extended its partnership with SEQOL to offer work experience placements to students in their final year of education under SEQOL’s Skills Factory initiative.

From September, the students will be able to spend anything from a few weeks up to a full school year on site at GWH, shadowing experienced staff and getting involved in projects.

It is hoped the placements will help the students decide whether they want to move into a career or further study and give them the confidence to pursue roles which they may have previously discounted.

Ann King, the employment project manager at SEQOL, said: “Although we work with several different employers in the local area, Carillion has set the bar high on their engagement with SEQOL by forging a lasting partnership with us to offer on ongoing programme of training and work experience opportunities.

“Many of our clients have been inspired by the stories of Carillion staff overcoming their own difficulties to take advantage of the employment opportunities open to then .”

Carillion will also shortly be hosting a working breakfast for SEQOL to explain to other local business and suppliers the benefits of being involved with the organisation and will be supporting a fashion show fundraiser that SEQOL is looking to hold in the coming months.