New campaign champions inclusive hiring as recruitment crisis solution
As businesses across the south coast continue to face recruitment challenges, one charity is offering an option that could be a timely solution for many employers: inclusive hiring.
Minstead Trust’s bold new campaign, We Just Work, is encouraging and supporting businesses to think differently about who they hire and how.
It comes at a time when 33% of employers report having hard-to-fill vacancies (CIPD, 2025), underlining the ongoing challenge of meeting recruitment needs.
We Just Work seeks to inspire businesses to see that hiring people with learning disabilities isn’t a risk, it’s an opportunity. In a tough recruitment market, businesses already embracing inclusive hiring are finding loyal, capable team members who bring real value to the workplace.
The campaign will see new inclusive hiring resources made available to businesses and free expert support for those interested in finding out more. This will be supported by an extensive marketing campaign to inspire business leaders with the many success stories from people with learning disabilities who are already thriving in work.
Minstead Trust supports over 600 people with learning disabilities and has extensive experience in the inclusive employment sector. It has supported dozens of people into work and training along the south coast through its Empowering Employment pathways.
Chris Hillman, Head of Empowering Employment, said:
‘Every week I meet businesses facing recruitment and retention issues, or looking to improve the neurodiversity of their workforce.
‘I also meet people with learning disabilities and autism who are skilful, courteous, and keen to be given an opportunity.
‘At Empowering Employment, we match the two, using our expertise and established programmes to give the best possible chance of success for everyone involved.’
The campaign will share weekly content across LinkedIn and their website, offering practical insights, employer experiences, and reflections from individuals who’ve found purpose, connection, and confidence through work.
Empowering Employment provides free, tailored support to businesses of all sizes, helping to match ready-to-work candidates with roles suited to their strengths, and guiding employers to create inclusive practices that benefit the whole team.
The Coastal Kitchen Family is one business already seeing the benefits.
Lorraine Eyre, General Manager, The Tenth Hole, part of the Coastal Kitchen Family said of their employee Dom, who works as a Golf Hut Attendant at The Tenth Hole:
‘Dom is an absolute pleasure to work with – approachable, supportive, and always focused on what’s best for our customers. We’ve really valued his insight since he graduated from his supported internship.’
Of his experience Dom said, ‘I’m really enjoying having a job and earning money. I do really appreciate the support I’ve had and how nice and friendly everyone here (Tenth Hole) has been. I picked up a set of golf clubs from a charity shop and have started playing a bit of golf myself!’
The campaign invites employers, HR professionals, and hiring managers to rethink how they recruit and to see inclusive hiring not as a favour, but as a smart, future-focused move.
To find out more about the campaign or to explore how Empowering Employment can support your business, visit:
Minstead Trust: www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/charity/breaking-barriers/we-just-work/
Empowering Employment: www.empoweremploy.org.uk/we-just-work