Disabled Apprentice: situation vacant

With the launch of yet another initiative by the government to get people off benefit and in to work, when disabled businessman Adam Thomas of Design Matters wanted to take on a disabled apprentice, you’d have thought it would be in everyone’s interest. Not so.

I was a sort of apprentice myself.

I left school with a few ‘O’ levels to my name in subjects like art and technical drawing. I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. I was on the dole and the first two jobs they found for me were just not suitable – this was before I had my accident. Then the third job was for a kitchen designer, so I had to go along for that interview. And for the first time I thought about doing that sort of design rather than book illustration. I went on to what was then a YTS scheme which was a version of the modern apprenticeship scheme, so I know how it helped me.

So it’s gone full circle because I wanted to give a disabled person an opportunity but also I wanted to bring through the next generation of disabled designers because there aren’t enough of us out there. So we thought of setting up an apprenticeship scheme.

One of the reasons my company’s been successful is that we do employ disabled people. My side of the business is specifically designing for disabled people and older people. It’s a real bonus having someone who understands the client’s needs from first hand experience.

Exactly at that time, an email landed in my inbox inviting local businesses to a breakfast meeting on apprenticeships.

I went along to this meeting and was absolutely energised when I heard other business people talking about the positive side of employing young people and giving them opportunities.

When it got to the Q&A I asked whether they offered anything specifically for disabled people. On the whole they didn’t, although there was this organisation called Connections who’s job it is to try to find employment for disabled people. I spoke to someone there who’s very good and has done a job spec for us, but she hasn’t been able to find anyone local.

And this is one of the problems we face: finding not just disabled people, but suitable disabled people already in the area. It’s too tricky to get here on public transport, and relocating is a non-starter because the council and housing associations haven’t got enough property for people within the area, let alone anyone wanting to come from elsewhere.

But I’m surprised that there aren’t any suitable people. We’re surrounded by four very good colleges and I’m surprised they couldn’t produce any good candidates.

The Apprenticeship Scheme should be publicised more because as an employer I just wasn’t aware of it.

• Anyone interested in an apprenticeship with Adam, contact 01628 531584, email: adam@dmkbb.co.uk

•• Adam Thomas was talking to Ian Macrae