Lisa seizes her Fair Chance to shine at NABCEL

"I would definitely recommend for other businesses to get involved with the Fair Chance programme. Not only can you give someone the chance they deserve, but you will also strengthen your own workforce by encouraging understanding and appreciation of diversity."

A business is "thrilled with the progress" of a new employee recruited through a Warwickshire County Council employment programme designed to offer people with supportive needs equal access to careers.

Nuneaton-based NABCEL has signed up to the council's Fair Chance Employment Programme and is already benefiting from the input of Lisa Blunden.

Lisa, who was introduced to NABCEL by Warwickshire Employment Support Team (WEST). is thriving in her administrative role and setting down roots for a longer-term career.

Sam Lees, operations manager at NABCEL, is full of praise for Lisa's work - and for the Fair Chance programme that introduced her to the company.

"Lisa has enthusiastically embraced her role at NABCEL and settled in really well," Sam said. "She has applied herself fully to all given tasks and is committed to supporting her fellow colleagues. We are thrilled with her progress in her first few weeks and can see her confidence growing on a daily basis.

"NABCEL is a company that operates at the heart of the community. We understand and value that every person is unique and wish to embrace the diversity within our workforce to learn and grow from one another. We want to reach out to members of the community who are seeking work but may have found themselves restricted by personal situations and are keen to offer them the possibility of employment with our company. We believe that everyone has the right to be given a fair chance."

The benefits of the Fair Chance programme are very much two-way, insists Sam. While Lisa embraces a career opportunity, NABCEL have her skills at their disposal.

"There is a vast pool of talent currently going to waste," she said. "It is frustrating to think there are people out there willing and able to work but who may be overlooked because they require more focused consideration or understanding.

"I would definitely recommend for other businesses to get involved with the Fair Chance programme. Not only can you give someone the chance they deserve, but you will also strengthen your own workforce by encouraging understanding and appreciation of diversity."

Kirsty Smith, WEST Employment Officer, is delighted that Lisa has found such a springboard to a career.

"NABCEL has shown great commitment to supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in Warwickshire by taking the time to work together with us to offer a supportive environment for Lisa to work in," she said. "Lisa has been doing a brilliant job since starting her new admin role and we are all very proud of her."

f you are an employer who is recruiting and would like to explore how the Fair Chance Employment Programme could help your business, then please contact the Warwickshire Skills Hub team on skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk