1st October 2007

It was a day of celebrations at Remploy in Leicester when friends and colleagues gathered to mark the city centre branch’s first birthday – and well over 200 success stories.

Remploy, the country’s leading provider of employment services for disabled people, only opened its branch in Humberston Gate, Leicester, last September but in that time it has already supported 245 disabled job-seekers into mainstream work.

The 100th successful candidate was Sajid Omergi while Ashley Davidson also became a “centurion” when he brought up the 200 mark and they were both on hand to help the birthday celebrations along at the branch. (on Fri, Sept 28).

Sajid, who is partially sighted, was made redundant in 2005 from a city centre store and spent two years searching in vain for a new job while Ashley, who has a thyroid condition, was laid off from his job with an electrical wholesaler and retailer in January this year.

Their fortunes changed, however, when Jobcentre Plus in the city referred each of them to Remploy where manager Marie Hall and her team provided help and support in a variety of ways, such as with confidence boosting sessions, interview techniques, compiling a CV and job searches.

Sajid soon found work as a clerical support officer with Leicester City Council’s Adult Learning Disabilities Service and Ashley was supported into a job as a hygiene operative with Bradgate Bakery, part of Samworth Brothers, in Madeline Road, Leicester.

Both Leicester City Council and Bradgate Bakery are finalists in Remploy’s 11th annual Leading the Way awards which recognise outstanding employers and individuals who have made significant efforts to actively encourage diversity within their organisations.

The grand final is to take place at the Victoria Plaza hotel in London on October 15.

Sajid said: “Remploy was fantastic. I am really grateful to Marie and her team and so when I was invited along to help celebrate the branch’s first birthday I was delighted to accept.”

Ashley said: “I’m really enjoying the job and I found Remploy really helpful to me. Employment advisor Jon Idle worked with me and not only found suitable vacancies but also helped me fill in application forms.”

Senior practitioner in the council’s Adult Learning Disabilities Service Sam Holiday joined Sajid at the birthday party while Rachel Walford of Bradgate Bakery accompanied Ashley.

Also on hand to join in the celebration were incapacity benefit advisor Manu Bala and disability employment advisor Sue Mason, both from the Jobcentre Plus branch in Charles Street in the city centre.

Marie said: “Everyone here at the branch has worked incredibly hard and we are delighted to have been able to help more than 200 disabled people into work and to help keep them there.

“We are hoping for even more success in future years and that is good news for disabled job-seekers in the Leicester area.”

Archive