Compass partners with Tower Project
The two companies have been working together over the past year, to support more people with learning disabilities to progress into employment, both within Compass and the wider hospitality sector
Hospitality group Compass has announced it has partnered with the Tower Project to support people with learning disabilities.
The partnership aims to highlight the gap in the job market for people with learning disabilities who are furthest from the job market.
In England, just 5.1% of people with learning disabilities are in employment. This has led to people with learning disabilities being defined as one of England’s most disadvantaged groups by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The two companies have been working together over the past year, to support more people with learning disabilities to progress into employment, both within Compass and the wider hospitality sector.
Since the summer Compass has worked with JET to “develop pathways into employment for people with learning disabilities and autism”, as well as delivering training sessions for JET’s Employment First supported internship programme.
Graham Smithers, head of services at JET, said: “We cannot thank Compass Group UK and Ireland enough for their continued support. Their staff has shown real disability confidence in their delivery of both training sessions and mentoring support.
“This partnership has highlighted that jobseekers with learning disabilities and autism are an untapped talent pool that can help reduce the recruitment challenges currently facing the hospitality industry in the UK.”
Head of Apprenticeships and Early Careers at Compass Group UK and Ireland, Jonathan Foot, said: “We worked closely with JET to tailor the training programme. There are so many opportunities for career development at Compass that we wanted to ensure we got this across. We’re passionate about recruiting, retaining and training our people.”
Chief people officer at Compass Group UK and Ireland, Donna Catley, added: “As a Disability Confident employer, I believe we’re the perfect partner to help JET with its quest to enable and empower people with disabilities. We’re all about career development and inclusion at Compass, and it’s especially rewarding collaborating with JET and we wholeheartedly endorse partnerships like this.
“We hope that more hospitality and foodservice businesses are working with similar foundations to support people with disabilities to progress into employment in our great industry.”
