Metrocentre pilots new recruitment scheme
Published: 29 June, 2011
Metrocentre is working with The Percy Hedley Foundation on a pilot scheme to help employers develop a bespoke, accessible recruitment process for people with learning disabilities.
Metrocentre signed up to take part in the Employability Development Project in January of this year after general manager Tim Lamb and operations manager Gavin Prior were invited to visit Northern Counties College (NCC), part of the Percy Hedley Foundation.
As part of the pilot, Metrocentre’s Sarah Butterfield was nominated and encouraged to take part in extra projects such as work placements, mystery shopping, access audits and staff training.
“We were keen to get involved in the Employability Project,” said Prior. “It’s an ideal way for Metrocentre to offer opportunities to disabled learners and help them to develop new skills. In addition, we’re also learning more about disability in the workplace and in the centre and improving our services and awareness at the same time.”
Sarah Butterfield, customer services coordinator and employability project champion for Metrocentre, has attended sessions on how to make employment more accessible for disabled people and is now helping to facilitate a number of these projects at Metrocentre.
College students Kirsty Wears and Helen Binns now work at Metrocentre every Friday, supported by Percy Hedley staff.
“They deal with day to day tasks on reception and in Shopmobility and are a great help.” said Butterfield. “Metrocentre staff have received disability awareness training through the foundation and have hands on experience of working alongside young disabled people.”
