17th October 2007

The Glasgow office of a worldwide business is celebrating today after beating off hundreds of entrants to be named one of the best in Britain at the final of Remploy’s 11th annual Leading the Way awards.

Global financial services firm Morgan Stanley, which has offices in Douglas Street, Glasgow, won the Learning category, sponsored by the Learning & Skills Council, at the final in London and was presented with the coveted award by entrepreneur and former Dragon’s Den TV show ‘dragon’ Richard Farleigh.

Remploy is the country’s leading provider of employment services for disabled people and the prestigious awards, run this year in association with The Times, recognise outstanding employers and individuals who have made significant efforts to actively encourage diversity within their organisations.

Morgan Stanley was one of eight businesses and individuals honoured at the awards final, held at the Victoria Plaza hotel in London on 15 October 2007.

“We are delighted to have won this award,” said Maxine McClintock, programme coordinator for Morgan Stanley. “This is an important part of Morgan Stanley’s activity in Glasgow, and our success is testament to the dedication and support both of Morgan Stanley employees and our working partners from across the city.”

Remploy chief executive Bob Warner said in announcing the award that the judges had chosen Morgan Stanley because members of its staff were dedicated to improving the life chances of disadvantaged members of its community through employment.

“Morgan Stanley offers opportunities to people who face barriers to employment and gives them access to a vast array of learning opportunities, which will directly enhance their employment prospects,” he said. “As a private sector organisation this is a unique approach to community engagement and responsibility, and is one that should be congratulated.”

Morgan Stanley beat off the challenge of scores of other contenders to make it onto that early shortlist in the learning category, which was judged on a national level and the winner announced at the final.

Apart from the Learning category won by Morgan Stanley, awards were also on offer to businesses in five other categories, including

• Retention
• Innovation
• Small businesses/organisations (fewer than 100 employees)
• Medium (between 101 and 1,000 employees)
• Large organisations (more than 1,000 employees)

Separate awards were also made to the Outstanding Business Individual and to the Outstanding Jobcentre Plus Individual of the year.

Richard Farleigh told guests that it made business sense for companies to be inclusive and a caring working environment generated respect.

He added: “We should be looking at all angles to get the right people. It is the mark of a good business that it is able to do that.”

Bob Warner told the audience at the awards: “It is always a privilege to applaud those businesses and individuals that go the extra mile in the employment of disabled people.

“Thanks to the example that many of you in this room have set, more employers are understanding the benefits of employing disabled people and helping to create a level playing field for disabled job seekers.”

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