South Yorkshire firm Remploy on the comeback trail after factory closures
The organisation had sites making furniture in Barnsley and Sheffield but closed the last one in 2012 after a government subsidy ended.
The move marked a new beginning and a new business model. Today it operates government contracts on a commercial basis and in the last five years the Sheffield branch alone has helped 5,350 disabled people into work, it says.
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Hide AdAshley Klein, aged 23, works at Marks & Spencer on Ecclesall Road and is set to become a supervisor after three years’ experience. He and recently-appointed Sheridan Sharpe were born with hand disabilities.
But they say they are determined not to let anything stop them doing all the usual duties of a busy city store.
Remploy helped them prepare for work after frustrating periods of unemployment. Ashley said: “Although I knew I was physically able to take on a range of jobs, employers were reluctant to give me a chance.
“Remploy gave me the opportunity to show I was just as capable as anybody else and although working in retail had never crossed my mind, I’m delighted to now be part of the M&S family.”
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Hide AdSheridan, aged 22, from Manor Park, said: “Remploy had belief in me and Marks & Spencer gave me a great opportunity.”
David Felton, communications consultant at Remploy, said: “Today we can get more people into work by supporting them than keeping loss-making factories going with a static population.”