Ebbw Vale's Christopher Evans leads the way in Wales
1st October 2007
He has been named regional ‘Leading the Way 2007’ winner by disability employment specialist Remploy. He will now go forward to the grand final of Remploy’s prestigious awards ceremony, to be held next month.
Remploy is the country’s leading provider of employment services for people with disabilities and health conditions and runs Leading the Way to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions made by employers and individuals in the recruitment and employment of disabled people.
Mr. Evans has won the ‘Jobcentre Plus’ category in Wales. He now joins a select band of other companies, organisations and individuals throughout the UK to compete for the national title at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in London on the 15th October 2007. Just one regional winner from each category will then be selected and named Remploy’s Leading the Way national winner for 2007.
At the presentation was one the many people Christopher has helped into work. Kevin Andrews had been out of work for 15 years due to back problems but thanks to help and support from Christopher, Kevin has now set up his own business as an ice-cream seller.
The main speaker at the final will be Michael McGrath, disability champion for Hilton Hotels and the only disabled person to have conquered both the North and South Poles. Millionaire entrepreneur Richard Farleigh, former star of the BBC2 Dragons’ Den TV show, will present the awards, which are being run in association with The Times newspaper.
Richard said, “Remploy’s motto is ‘putting ability first’ and that is something all employers would do well to heed. By concentrating on the abilities of potential employees and not any disabilities they may have means businesses can make the most of the skills pool and so flourish in ever increasingly competitive markets.
“These awards are important because they both recognise employers who demonstrate best practice in the recruitment and employment of disabled people and encourage others to follow suit.”
Bob Warner, chief executive of Remploy, said: “Our Leading the Way Awards are now in their 11th year and are going from strength to strength. The calibre of entries this year has been extremely high and I congratulate Mr. Evans and wish him luck in the national final.”
