Given a Fair Chance, Holly and Daniel are flying...
“I’m incredibly proud of Holly and Daniel for their commitment, enthusiasm, and resilience throughout their job search journey...watching their growth has been inspiring, and I can’t wait to see them blossom in this next chapter of their careers.”
A new restaurant in Nuneaton has hit the ground running supported by the skills of two talented young people recruited through the
Fair Chance Employment Programme.
The LCE Fund, has lent more than £4million to small businesses since its creation in 2022.
Starting up a business is a complex and multi-stranded enterprise and one of the most vital elements is building a strong team. So Falguni contacted the Fair Chance Employment Programme for help. The programme includes Warwickshire Supported Employment Service (WSES), run by Warwickshire Skills Hub for the County Council, which exists to support young people and adults with autism and/or learning disabilities with an aspiration to work.
WSES customers Daniel and Holly now have full-time roles at Saffron Table as Food and Beverage Team Member Apprentice and Hospitality Supervisor Apprentice respectively. Both are truly integral to the team, and the running of the restaurant, as two of only five full-time staff, along with the owners and chef. Daniel and Holly were assisted by WSES Journey Guide, Seema Vala, throughout the interview process.
Seema then worked with Falguni to devise a plan of reasonable adjustments and in-work support was to ease their passage into the workplace. Falguni said: “It is wonderful to have opened the doors of Saffron Table and we are delighted to have Daniel and Holly on board. They are a huge part of our team and it would not have been possible without the advice and support of WSES.
“It has been so reassuring to know their advisers were on hand to help us navigate the whole process, from creating a job-spec at the very start and then advertising the roles through to supporting the candidates at interview and as they settled into their roles.”
Seema Vala, Journey Guide for WSES, said: “I’m incredibly proud of Holly and Daniel for their commitment, enthusiasm, and resilience throughout their job search journey. Both have shown exceptional talent and determination, and I’m thrilled to see them join Saffron Table, where I know they’ll be amazing assets to the team. Watching their growth has been inspiring, and I can’t wait to see them blossom in this next chapter of their careers.”
Laura Delahunty, Business Skills Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “It has been really rewarding to have been part of this journey and to see the business go from idea to vision. To help guide them through the process of recruiting has been brilliant and I am very much looking forward to seeing how the business, and Daniel and Holly, thrive in the future.”
Warwickshire Supported Employment Service is a part of the Warwickshire Fair Chance Employer Programme, designed to support adults residing in Warwickshire, aged 18 or above with a learning disability and/or autism. The service, offering ongoing support dependent on individuals needs and challenges, is focused on inspiring individuals to gain and sustain employment, build independence, and develop essential skills.
The Warwickshire Skills Hub Business Advisors provide a free skills & training review throughout the business to see where a Fair Chance Employee opportunity may be considered. This may include 'job carving' which looks at a job description and carves responsibilities or tasks to make it inclusive to a person's specific needs. Across Warwickshire, 89 employers have now pledged to be a Fair Chance Employer and that number is growing all the time.
The Fair Chance Jobs Portal -
Https://fairchancejobs.warwickshire.gov.uk/ - helps bridge the gap between the Fair Chance candidates looking for paid employment and the Fair Chance Employers looking for staff. The portal offers access to a variety of inclusive jobs. Fair Chance employers are supported with a 'wraparound' support package to ensure the smooth transition of employing new staff.
The support includes:
- A full business skills review.
- In-work job coach for people with Autism and/or learning disabilities and anyone with physical or mental health experiences
- Employer workshops to raise awareness of all supportive needs in the workplace.
- Mental Health support and prevention tools and resources
- Tailored recruitment support
- Job carving for new opportunities
Fair Chance supports Warwickshire residents who face barriers to employment, working closely with partners to support:
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- Foreign nationals who are part of our Resettlement Programme in Warwickshire
- People with learning disabilities and/or Autism
- Ex-armed forces personnel
- Active armed forces spouses & partners
- Young people aged 16-18 that are not in education, employment, or training (NEETS)
- People over the age of 50 who are looking to get back into work or retrain
- Care Leavers
- Young Carers
- Parents Returning to Work
- People who have been made redundant