Wincanton plc
Wincanton is working with Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (TLS) – a government funded organisation that helps those with learning difficulties – to find full-time employment for autistic adults.
The programme aims to give those with autism the opportunity to demonstrate that they have something to offer the workplace and a plan was devised that enabled autistic adults to be assessed in work situations.
Those that successfully performed the tasks set were offered full time employment and appropriate training.
The scheme has been a resounding success. “We are so delighted that between us we have identified disabled people who want to work and needed the opportunity to prove themselves and trained them to a level that has enabled them to succeed,” said Neil Woodbridge, CEO of Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions.
Knights of Old
Knights of Old aim to create a culture of continuous learning and development which encourages its employees to reach their full potential. The company has an annual external training spend of around £50k per year and calculates that each of its employees spends around 7 per cent of their time undertaking some form of training.
Employees are encouraged to request role-specific training such as upgrading their HGV License or forklift truck training while those workers who wish to pursue academic degrees and MBAs are also supported.
The company has a dedicated training facility at it’s head office which can accommodate 20 people and plans to open similar facilities at other UK sites are well advanced.
Simarco Worldwide Logistics
Simarco’s belief in the importance of training is reflected in the fact that 7 per cent of the company’s employees are former apprentices. But, in late 2011, the company introduced a scheme to provide training for staff that had not been through the apprenticeship scheme. The programme has been taken up by workers who have been with the company for between 12 months and 10 years and involves studying for job-specific qualifications in warehousing and storage. Simarco has picked up the bill for putting staff through the courses and has dedicated an area of its Witham facility as a classroom where staff can study during their working week.
In addition, the company is introducing new international trade and logistics apprenticeships which will equip staff to operate in overseas markets and has introduced a ‘Professional Pathway’ scheme that helps personnel to plan their future career progression – highlighting the professional qualifications they will need along the way.
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