A national employer has partnered with employment specialists Fedcap Employment to help people with disabilities and health conditions find jobs.
SOCOTEC, the UK’s leading provider of testing, inspection and compliance services, has partnered with Fedcap and is already helping to change people’s lives.
With 42 offices in Great Britain, SOCOTEC has made a commitment by adhering to the government’s Disability Confident scheme following the support of Fedcap.
After learning about Fedcap’s work and its values, the SOCOTEC team wanted to explore ways in which organizations could work together.
Becky Smith, professional inclusion specialist at Fedcap Employment, laid the groundwork for the partnership, which has already seen the employer attend job fairs, speak to potential new hires and identify opportunities for a pipeline of long-term talent.
A handful of Fedcap customers have already been taken through the process and started working at SOCOTEC – with many more expected to follow in the weeks and months to come.
Nigel Mitchell, 63, from Weybridge, had been unemployed for seven years before being supported under the Intensive Personal Employment Support (IPES) scheme. Although he suffers from depression and has complex diabetes needs, he was determined to find work, but his age often stood against him.
Working with key Fedcap specialist Gemma Boys, Nigel’s confidence began to grow, and it wasn’t long before he impressed SOCOTEC bosses to land a position as a trainee field technician, which made it possible to receive benefits for the first time in years.
He said: “SOCOTEC understands my health and really understood my condition. The technicians always stop and chat, it’s great. This job gave me a purpose. I don’t want to stay in bed anymore. Even though I feel tired, I always want to get up and go to work. I want to continue doing this until I retire. I would even consider going down part-time in retirement. I would like to continue as long as I can.
Jack Adams, 22, from Bournemouth, is diagnosed with Asperger’s and was out of work for three years until the IPES program and this new partnership gave him support.
He worked with key Fedcap specialist Emma Davis to build his confidence levels, engage in stress management techniques, focus on his transferable skills and prepare to find suitable employment.
After landing a job as a trainee field technician, Jack said, “I feel good about it. It’s good so far. I never thought I would go for a job like this, but I’m excited to see where it goes from here.
Fedcap will continue to support those placed in the role for six months, ensuring the role works for everyone involved.
Lisa Massey, HR Director at SOCOTEC, said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with Fedcap. Regardless of an individual’s needs, they should feel like they can fit into a normal working environment. Organizations can always adapt and adapt, and we need to make full use of the talents they have.
Linda Matthews, Head of Talent and Development at SOCOTEC, said, “We are excited to consider partnership opportunities with Fedcap. There is a lot of potential for SOCOTEC to show how we can help people get into our organization. »
Becky Smith said: ‘It’s great that we are working with a great national organization and that they have joined us in supporting people who have a medical condition. Also, the jobs offered are not necessarily entry-level jobs, so we can help raise the aspirations of our communities. I hope other employers will see the difference that is being made and join us on this journey.
For more information on how Fedcap Employment supports people, visit www.fedcapemployment.org
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