Business
Working
a survey commissioned by Hilton earlier this year to mark Learning Disability Week. However, of those that have hired someone
A
with a learning disability, 89% said their new employee has met or exceeded their expec- tations. This strongly suggests that with the right support and infrastructure for employ- ees and employers, staff with learning disabili- ties can contribute to a dynamic and enriched work environment. Hilton has partnered with WorkFit, the employment arm of the Down’s Syndrome Association, and Aurora Foxes, a training hotel in Minehead, Somerset, that specialises in educating people with learning disabilities, to diversify its hiring pool. The global hotel company has since hired 11 graduates into permanent roles across the UK, which range from revenue analysts to kitchen assistants. Speaking at Hilton’s Breaking Barriers: Supporting People with Learning Disabilities
28 | The Caterer | 24 November 2023
lmost nine in 10 people with a learning disability in the UK have experienced difficulties finding a job, according to
together
Employing people with learning disabilities can be a mutually rewarding exercise, with large companies such as Hilton making it part of their brand identity. Jungmin Seo reports
to Enter the Workplace Event, held at Hilton London Metropole, Steve Cassidy, senior vice- president and managing director of Hilton UK & Ireland, said: “Thanks to our partnerships with two fabulous organisations, we’ve been able to welcome some incredible people into our workshops over the past eight years. We have facilitated over 35 work placements and there are more to come.”
Be flexible Esther Brittan, HR operations manager UK & Ireland at Hilton, advises businesses to start the hiring journey in partnership with organ- isations that specialise in training staff with learning disabilities. “The key bit of advice I would give is to start
small and to gain the confidence in the organi- sation so you can develop something that can be really scalable,” she says. “Work with a part- ner until you’ve got a core of people in your organisation that can pass on that knowledge.” Chris Jackson, lead independent living skills tutor at Aurora Foxes, says employers should not
always ask for a traditional CV: “At Foxes, we cre- ate a skills video which demonstrates what that young person is capable of doing. Allowing flex- ibility in interview formats depending on the individual in front of you can be really useful.” Mark Costello, principal at Aurora Foxes, encourages employers to look beyond imme- diate skills gaps. He says: “Think about if this person has the capacity to learn and the will- ingness to learn. You are being interviewed as well, so train your hiring managers to recog- nise and overcome bias.” Those interviewing applicants should also
try to start with simpler questions and extend these based on skill level. Visual aids can be helpful too. It is important to make interview- ees feel relaxed to get the best out of them.
Be prepared Alison Thwaite, employment development manager at WorkFit, says operators should
What to ask
Example interview questions recommended by Aurora Foxes O What are your strengths? O Can you name some of your work skills? O What do you need support with in the
workplace? O What jobs do you enjoy? O Do you think teamwork is important? O Tell me about yourself
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