Our WorkFit programme is pleased to announce the success of their employer partners and candidates at the BASE Awards, held on the 9 November.
Best Employer Practice Award
Hilton was announced as the winner of the Best Employer Practice Award. Hilton has worked in partnership with our WorkFit programme since 2018, supporting candidates into a variety of positions within hotels, such as Journey Ambassador, Concierge Assistant, Commis Chef, Restaurant Assistant, Breakfast Assistant and Pantry Assistant to name a few.
Hilton has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to supporting people with learning disabilities to gain paid employment, retain their positions and progress in their careers. Hilton teams have fully embraced a supported employment process, with attention to their recruitment processes, carving role descriptions and adapting mandatory training resources to support candidates to learn their roles in an accessible way. They take pride in employing people with learning disabilities and creating a workforce that is inclusive and representative of their customers and community.
Remco Norden, Senior Director, Regional Operations UK & Ireland, Hilton, said: ‘Winning Best Employer Practice at the 2022 BASE Awards is a truly meaningful recognition for Hilton.
Our partnership with the Down’s Syndrome Association started at Hilton London Metropole five years ago, with the aim to offering young people with learning disabilities fulfilling career opportunities in hospitality.
Through the WorkFit programme, we have been able to place 18 individuals across our hotels in a variety of roles – all of which have had an incredible impact for our team culture and guest experience.
This recognition fills me with great pride, and I am incredibly grateful to BASE for introducing us to such fantastic Team Members!’
The leading global hospitality company will continue expanding the partnership with WorkFit to offer employment opportunities across the country. We look forward to developing our partnership with Hilton to create more opportunities for our candidates.
Multipave Ltd also came highly commended in the Best Employer Practice category. Multipave Ltd partnered with WorkFit to create a unique employment opportunity in the construction industry for our WorkFit candidate, Dan. The team have placed an exceptional emphasis on Dan’s continued professional development and training, in which they intuitively adapt all resources to ensure they are accessible for Dan. They are also strong advocates in sharing the positive benefits of supporting candidates with learning disabilities.
David Grainger Award
WorkFit Candidate Todd Scanlon was announced as the winner of the David Grainger Award for outstanding progress in his employment. With the support of Workfit, and his employer Martyn Coles of Coles Scaffolding, Todd is now in a permanent paid role as a Scaffolding Apprentice, and is working towards becoming a fully qualified Scaffolder, in what could be a UK first for someone who has Down’s syndrome. Todd has a strong work ethic and is a contributing member of the team.
Martyn, of Coles Scaffolding commented: ‘Todd is single-handedly changing attitudes just by being himself. Having Todd on site with the team is brilliant, he’s a good presence, a hard worker, all the customers like him. He is such an inspiration to others.’
Kim West, Chair of the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group said: ‘Todd has shown grit and determination and worked very hard to become a scaffolder, which is a job he has always wanted to do. He is an inspiration to us all and all the Trustees of the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group are extremely proud of him.’
Workfit Candidate Callum Trowill was also mentioned as highly commended in the David Grainger Award.
Callum works as a Teaching Assistant at Maltby Hilltop School in Rotherham, Yorkshire. He is incredibly professional and has a talent for communicating with the children in his class. He has shown a constant desire to upskill himself and a dedication to the post that has resulted in him being a valued member of the team.
A parent of one of his students told us: ‘It is very hard to put into words what it means to us, as a family to have someone like Callum in our lives. Our young boy has severe learning difficulties and communication issues. When he works with Callum, it’s like he has a friend for life. Callum has an intuition and empathy that is hard to find. The connection they have is so heart-warming.’
Warren Carratt, CEO of Nexus Multi Academy Trust which Maltby Hilltop School is part of said: ‘For so many of our children across special educational needs, the absence of “seeing it” means they hardly ever get to “be it”. Callum is the visible inspiration that our children need to know they too can go on to not just be visible in our society, but actively make a contribution that changes others’ lives for the better.’
We are proud to see our partner employers and WorkFit Candidates receiving this recognition for their work which really makes a difference to people’s lives.
To find out more about WorkFit and how we support people who have Down’s Syndrome to access meaningful work opportunities that can benefit the rest of their lives, please contact the team on 0333 12 12 300 or email us on dsworkfit@downs-syndrome.org.uk For more information visit the WorkFit website: www.dsworkfit.org.uk