ASDA

A working partnership

In the last year alone, 207 Remploy candidates found jobs with leading retailer ASDA - the first time that Remploy placed more than 200 candidates in a year with a single employer.

Following this success, the two companies signed a partnership agreement recognising Remploy as ASDA‘s preferred recruitment partner for people with disabilities and health conditions. David Smith, ASDA's People Director, said that there were strong commercial reasons for employing disabled people. "Firstly, it is the right thing to do and secondly we find that people with disabilities are 10 per cent less likely to leave us. Retention is better and we also have an improved absenteeism record. Certainly, commitment to the job is absolutely massive."

Under the terms of the agreement, ASDA is committed to sharing information with Remploy concerning selection and recruitment procedures, ASDA culture, success values, skills requirements, vacancy details and new store opening programmes. In turn, Remploy is committed to fully understanding ASDA's recruitment needs and skills requirements. Remploy provides job ready candidates with the core skills that the company values. Remploy provides support to both management and the individual colleague to achieve sustained employment.

Beth Carruthers, Remploy Director of Employment Services, said: "We're extremely proud of our relationship with ASDA. From very humble beginnings, we have rapidly increased the number of disabled candidates we have provided to fill vacancies in ASDA stores. Our partnership agreement shows that both companies want to do more and more."