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Compass Group UK & Ireland is working in partnership with Tower Project JET Service (JET) in East London to provide employment support for people with learning disabilities and autism.
People with learning disabilities are being defined as one of England’s most disadvantaged groups by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, with just 5.1 per cent of people with learning disabilities in employment according to NHS figures.
Whilst statistics demonstrate that people with learning disabilities are furthest from the job market, the partnership between Compass Group UK & Ireland and JET is highlighting that this is furthest from the truth.
The two companies have been working together over the past year, to support more people with learning disabilities to progress into employment, both within Compass and the wider hospitality sector. Since the summer Compass has worked with JET to develop pathways into employment for people with learning disabilities and autism, as well as delivering training sessions for JET’s Employment First supported internship programme.
Training includes: How to Provide Award Winning Customer Service by Managers from guest services provider, Rapport, Tea Tasting by the Head of Beverages at Restaurants Associates, Introduction to Chef Skills by the Sector Executive Chef at ESS and Afternoon Tea Preparation by the Managing Director of Payne & Gunter, the party and event catering arm.
Speaking about the partnership, Graham Smithers Head of Services at JET said: “We cannot thank Compass Group UK and Ireland enough for their continued support. Their staff has shown real disability confidence in their delivery of both training sessions and mentoring support.
“This partnership has highlighted that jobseekers with learning disabilities and autism are an untapped talent pool that can help reduce the recruitment challenges currently facing the hospitality industry in the UK.”
Chief People Officer at Compass Group UK and Ireland, Donna Catley, added: “As a Disability Confident employer, I believe we’re the perfect partner to help JET with its quest to enable and empower people with disabilities. We’re all about career development and inclusion at Compass, and it’s especially rewarding collaborating with JET and we wholeheartedly endorse partnerships like this.
“We hope that more hospitality and foodservice businesses are working with similar foundations to support people with disabilities to progress into employment in our great industry.”
