Minister Launches ABLE Business Excellence Awards in Cork
Friday, 5th December 2008: Mr. Billy Kelleher TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, was at the National Learning Network centre in Hollyhill today to officially launch the ABLE Business Excellence Awards in Cork. Separately, the Minister also took the opportunity to present certificates to local employers in recognition of the valuable role that they play in encouraging people with disabilities to enter employment.
Awarded by the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) in association with Rehab, the ABLE Business Excellence Awards recognise businesses that demonstrate their commitment and achievement as employers of, and providers of services to, people with disabilities.
Speaking at the event, Michael Horgan, Rehab’s Director of Enterprises, said, “The ABLE award should be a key element of any organisation’s business strategy in assessing where an organisation is at now and where it needs to be with people with disabilities. Ten per cent of our population has a disability and it makes good business sense for companies to make sure that this key section of our population is being provided for appropriately.
“The Award recognises positive attitudes in organisations that see disability and diversity as a key to success and provides an environment for learning and continuous improvement. The Award is open to private companies of all sizes and applicant companies will be considered under four categories: leadership, people, customer, and built environment.”
In addition to launching the ABLE Business Excellence Awards, Minister Kelleher also presented certificates of recognition to local employers who have worked with National Learning Network in identifying employment opportunities and in supporting job retention among people with disabilities.
“Work experience is a central part of all of the National Learning Network’s employment training courses and building relationships with local employers is essential to enabling students to build work-related skills and to progress to employment at the end of their training,” says Noel Shannon, Area Manager, National Learning Network in Hollyhill.
“We are very grateful to the large number of local employers who regularly provide both short and long-term work experience opportunities, employer-based training placements and employment to learners from National Learning Network. Our hope is that even more employers will work with us in ensuring that a greater number of people with disabilities enter the workforce.”
The event saw Joe Gantly, President of the Cork Chamber of Commerce address attendees, including many representatives from the local business community, on corporate social responsibility and the employment of people with disabilities. Dermot Crosby of FÁS spoke of the benefits of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the variety of supports available to employers. Following the launch of the ABLE awards and the presentation of certificates, refreshments were served and guests had the opportunity to mingle with staff from the centre and with other local employers.
ENDS
Note to editor:
ABLE Business Excellence Award
Companies can register their interest for the ABLE awards on www.able.ie and will receive a full information pack. Following the submission of a self-assessment form, a site assessment will be arranged and carried out by ABLE representatives, after which the company will receive their result and feedback providing key learnings for further development in the form of a report. Successful companies will then be awarded the ABLE Business Excellence Award. Awards are valid for a period of two years, following which reassessment takes place.
National Learning Network in Cork City (Hollyhill and Model Farm Road)
National Learning Network is the training and employment division of the Rehab Group. In the last year, over 300 people have accessed programmes in the National Learning Network centres in Hollyhill and Model Farm Road and the outreach locations in Carrigaline, Macroom, Mallow and Midleton. The centres offer FÁS-funded employment training courses and HSE-funded rehabilitative training to people with a broad range of disabilities including physical, sensory and learning disabilities, mental health difficulties as well as to others who are marginalised.
National Learning Network is committed to working with learners to attain high rates of progression to further education or employment. In 2007, more than 90% of students who completed courses in the Cork centres progressed to employment or further training and education. All courses are nationally accredited by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), ensuring a standardised, quality approach to all training courses.
The following vocational training courses are offered by National Learning Network in Cork: Employer-Based Training (Hollyhill and Model Farm Road), Catering and Culinary Skills (Hollyhill), IT Systems (Hollyhill), IT by Distance Learning (Hollyhill), IT/Business Studies (Model Farm Road), Fresh Start (Model Farm Road) and Paces Introductory Skills Training (Model Farm Road).
Rehabilitative training Courses offered in Cork include the Directions programme in Hollyhill and the outreach courses in Mallow, Midleton, Macroom and Carrigaline.
For further information, contact:
Noel Shannon, Area Manager, National Learning Network, Hollyhill
Tel: 021 4300144; Email: noel.shannon@nln.ie
Eoin Kelly, Area Manager, National Learning Network, Model Farm Road
Tel: 021 434 1028; Email: eoin.kelly@nln.ie
Tess Tattersall, Rehab
Tel: 01 205 7260; Email: tess.tattersall@www.rehab.ie