Pictured above: (l-r) Carmel McKeogh, Ken Hames, Councillor
Steve Charmley and Erica Garner
Businesses flocked to Theatre Severn on Wednesday 16 September,
for a unique Shropshire Council event.
'Working Beyond Boundaries' organised through Shropshire
Council's County Training and Enable services, attracted over 70
public and private sector organisations from throughout Shropshire
to come and hear the motivational and inspirational words of TV
Presenter Ken Hames, and Carmel McKeogh, Head of HR and
Organisational Development at Blackpool Council.
Ken is a well-known motivational speaker with an impressive
military career to his name, and has worked on many documentaries
for the BBC, Channel 4 and 5, including 'Beyond Boundaries'. Ken
shared some of his experiences from this series, in how those with
a disability are able to overcome huge barriers in inhospitable
conditions through sheer determination and will power once provided
with an opportunity and instilled with self-belief.
Carmel McKeogh visits many similar events all over the UK,
sharing her positive experiences of working with disabled
individuals and those from a disadvantaged background, and the
enormous benefits these people can bring to the dynamics of a
workforce. Carmel has worked on a variety of diversity initiatives
throughout her career and delivered a lively and thought-provoking
presentation on why everyone should be adopting and practising
diversity within the workplace.
This exciting afternoon climaxed with the presentations of
awards to five employers who work closely with County Training and
Enable and who have already provided new beginnings for those with
a disability or who are unemployed, through secured employment.
Welti Health and Fitness, Shropshire Council's Payroll Department,
Montgomery's Tower and The Uplands at Oxon all won awards in
categories including 'Recruitment Innovation', 'Commitment to
Diversity', 'Getting Back to Work' and 'Work Skills and
Achievement'. National organisation, Tesco received the 'Working
Beyond Boundaries' Award' for demonstrating all of the above and
for providing work experience placements, job trials and permanent
paid work for a number of County Training and Enable clients. Both
the human resources team and department managers have worked
tirelessly since the opening of the Battlefield, Shrewsbury store
to identify roles and work placements which could be tailored to
suit a person's specific needs and interests.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Culture and
Leisure at Shropshire Council who opened the event, comments "It
was wonderful to see so many businesses represented at Working
Beyond Boundaries, and I am confident we can build similar
relationships and create employment opportunities as we have with
our award winners. It is vital, if we are to prosper as a county,
that we continue to support and inspire those from all walks of
life."