Frequently Asked Questions

Some answers to common questions from employers

I’m a living wage employer – can I host training placements?

Yes, there are clear rules around the living wage, which includes having unpaid staff on site. However, we will support you to transition the training placement into a paid living wage role.

What are the benefits for my company?

A committed employee, statistically likely to stay in post for much longer than someone without a learning disability. You will also be illustrating your company’s social impact, which can help when tendering for contracts. We also have a full marketing team who will help publicise your role in the scheme to local press and to our 35,000 strong digital audience.

I don’t know if I have a suitable role to offer, how can you help?

Our employability team will work with you and your business to scope and carve a potential role. Very often our graduates have unique interests and talents that can improve operations.

Is this a big commitment?

It does not need to be. Hosting a training placements can start from as little as one day a week and employing someone with a learning disability displays its benefits straight away, also we are here to support you and your new employee throughout.

Do the people you are placing have high disability needs?

No – the candidates have a range of disabilities and in most cases they are extremely capable and just require a few minor adjustments for them to be able to do a good job.

Do you offer advice on how to best interact with people with learning disabilities?

We are available to give advice and support from initial contact all the way through the placement or employment. We can also help with access to disability awareness training for you and your staff.

I am a small business, that currently cannot employ anyone else? Can I still help?

Yes! Many of our participants need real –world experience to back up their classroom learning. We are always looking for businesses to host volunteer training placements, we encourage you to let them learn from you and help grow your business, hopefully to a point where you can offer them paid work in the future.

What is your pedigree in learning disability employment?

Our Step Up For Work programme has run for several years and placed people in paid employment with employees as diverse as Paulton’s Park, Milestone Infrastructure and Greene King pubs.

We run several social businesses that provide employment and training placements to dozens of people with learning disabilities each week.

Our businesses include an arts centre, wedding venues, cafés and even a jam and chutney company. Our employment programmes are tightly structured to help people learn the key skills and work experience they need before finding employment. We prepare them for the world of work to ensure they can have the best possible impact for your business.

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