Charity Marks 10th Birthday with new Apprenticeship Challenge
Hanna King, Apprentice at Hertfordshire PASS, gives a speech, watched by Mark Harding (Research & Development Manager at Henkel), Ian Whitelegg (Director of Prime Impressions), and Neville Reyner CBE DL (President and Chairman of the British Chambers of Commerce and the Chairman of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce).
Disability charity Hertfordshire PASS celebrated its 10th anniversary by launching its 10 PASS Ten Challenge, which aims to find apprenticeships for 10 young disabled people before the end of the year.
Set up 10 years ago to enable disabled people to live more independently through employment and self-directed support, Hertfordshire PASS runs WorkABILITY, a project that encourages Hertfordshire employers to offer work placements to disabled people. WorkABILITY is run by six young disabled people employed as apprentices.
The charity celebrated its 10th birthday with a special event at its office in Welwyn Garden City, attended by representatives of local businesses, councils and disability organisations.
The charity is already part-way to achieving its target by arranging an apprenticeship at the local offices of multinational company Henkel Limited, a leading provider of adhesive technologies, cosmetics and toiletries, including well-known household brands such as Pritt, Sellotape and Schwarzkopf. The company plans to take on its first Hertfordshire PASS apprentice in the next few months.
“The WorkABILITY apprenticeship scheme fits perfectly into our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy,” said Henkel HR Manager Diane Humphrey. “One key part of our CSR strategy is looking at diversity and inclusion within our workplace and this project gives us another way to look at our inclusion agenda.”
Hertfordshire PASS provides a mentor for each apprentice, who accompanies the apprentice full-time until the company’s staff can take on this responsibility. The provision of a mentor makes managing the apprentice easier.
Jack Sapwell during his WorkABILITY apprenticeship at printing company Prime Impressions.
The Director of printing company Prime Impressions, Ian Whitelegg, explained: “Having the Hertfordshire PASS mentor there made a big difference as we didn’t have to worry about managing the apprentice. For example, if the apprentice forgot to do something, the mentor would prompt them to do it. We found the experience of taking on a disabled apprentice rewarding and would like to do it again in the future.”
As well as finding placements for apprentices in local companies, Hertfordshire PASS has also taken on six apprentices to run the WorkABILITY project, which resulted in the charity receiving a regional highly commended micro employer of the year 2010 award from the National Apprenticeships Service.
St Albans resident Ed Magee, 21, who has a mild learning disability, recently started working for the charity as a Marketing Apprentice.
“This is my first job that I have enjoyed,” said Ed, who lives on Blenheim Road, St Albans. “The best thing about being an apprentice is learning about the different job roles you can do within an organisation.”
MORE: Hertfordshire PASS is currently looking for local companies, young disabled people and potential mentors to join its apprenticeship scheme. For more information, call 01707 321 442 or email pass@hertspass.com.
