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First companies to gain recognition as SEND Employer Champions

Wiltshire Council has awarded recognition to two companies in Wiltshire for giving young people with SEND workplace opportunities

Published 3 December 2024

Wiltshire Council has awarded recognition to two companies in Wiltshire for giving young people with SEND workplace opportunities.

The council launched the Wiltshire SEND Employer Champion Scheme in July and already a number of companies have signed up or are receiving accreditation for taking the first steps.

Companies can sign up for bronze, silver or gold levels, participate in a number of activities and receive accreditation accordingly.

Travis Perkins was one of the first to gain recognition after achieving the silver award for the scheme. Jonnie joined Travis Perkins in Salisbury firstly as an intern and then lately has been given a full time role.

Liam Greenaway, the manager of Travis Perkins Salisbury said: "Jonnie has been working with us for about seven months now full time. He started in January on an internship programme and now he's full time. He works out in the yard and is customer facing so he helps serve the customers, pick deliveries, load and unload lorries and keep the place tidy and safe."

While Jonnie is the first person with SEND to work at Travis Perkins in Salisbury, Liam has worked with other people with SEND in the past.
Explaining Jonnie's role Liam said: "He's fine, there is not much that you would say he struggles with. He gets on with it and if you give him a list of jobs if you write it down, he gets on with it. He's settled in well. He did a three-month internship which helped him. and it meant when he became full time he wasn't new he had an idea of what needed to be done and settled in really well. 

Liam has some advice for other employers thinking about the role: "For me I would say the internship is the way to go because it gives them a working example. When I had the initial interview he was quite reserved. We did the internship and he grew into it and we then realised he would be a good fit for the team when he applied for the available position. That working interview through the internship definitely worked in his favour. "

The Pilgrims' Friend Society, at Middlefields House which is a care home in Chippenham has been awarded - the Bronze Star Award and has achieved Wiltshire SEND Employer Champion status, that will be awarded shortly. The bronze is for arranging mock interviews for Tyler and Elizabeth. The SEND Employer Champion Award is in recognition of the care home employing three people Hannah, Fraser and Lottie.
 
Café Manager Ana Jesus said: ""It is amazing work you do to find employers who can help. We look forward to helping many years into the future"

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said: "I am so pleased that in the few months this scheme has been operating, we already have employers welcoming people with SEND into the workplace. These two examples show how welcoming people in this way gives people with SEND an opportunity to work and in return the benefits to the companies have been immense. 

"I am looking forward to many more success stories in the future."

Employers who are interested in finding out more about the scheme and about the training and support provided, can contact west.cc@wiltshire.gov.uk or call 01225 718004.

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