Cumbria Tourism, which represents businesses across Cumbria’s £4.1billion visitor economy has joined forces with local charity People First to increase employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Nationally, just 4.8% of people with learning disabilities and 30% of Autistic people are in paid work. This is in stark contrast to 75% of the general population.
Aiming to challenge this status quo with a unique approach to supported employment, earlier this year, People First launched the Creating Careers service.
Part-funded by The National Lottery Community fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Creating Careers provides job coaching to prepare people with learning disabilities and autistic people to secure and succeed in paid work; this includes interview preparation, confidence building and skill development, as well as ongoing support in the workplace.
Creating Careers is a brand-new approach to supported employment which puts partnership with local businesses at its heart.
Cumbria Tourism has proudly joined Creating Careers as its first ‘Industry Partner’, after attending the launch of the service in September 2024.
Funded by the Governments's Shared Prosperity Fund, Cumbria Tourism will help People First scale its support with a particular focus on recruitment into hospitality roles.
Cumbria’s visitor economy is responsible for many employment opportunities. Recognising that recruitment can be difficult for the sector, and that more could be done to help people with different abilities contribute to the workplace, this partnership will connect tourism business with people looking for jobs and will help those people be ready for work.
People First CEO, David Blacklock said:
“The world and the workplace is better when we all get to be a part of it.”
“Creating Careers has so far supported people who have too often been told that they can’t do things, realise their potential and secure work in a range of settings from manufacturing to retail.’
“This partnership with Cumbria Tourism is a watershed moment for the service that will help many more people access our service and contribute to a sector that is so important for Cumbria and its communities.”
Creating Careers is free to access and is focusing initially on the Cumberland Council area. Participants are paired with an experienced job coach who works closely with each individual to find their best fit in Cumbria’s job market. Coaches prepare people for the workplace, create placements with employers and help employers feel confident diversifying their teams.
Cumbria Tourism’s Head of Partnerships and Projects, Rachel Tyson said:
“What we’re looking to do is change things. We want to challenge the status quo, to help businesses find employees that have so much to offer; and help people with learning disabilities and autistic people to embark on fulfilling careers in our country'd vibrant tourism and hospitality sectors.
“These two things are one and the same, and we’re delighted to be working with People First to bring the talents of a too often-overlooked community to the Cumbrian workforce".
People with learning disabilities and autistic people looking for work, can contact People First directly to take part in the service by:
- Emailing: [email protected]
or
- Calling: 01228 550696
Businesses looking to recruit new employees as part of Creating Careers, or to find out more about partnership opportunities can contact [email protected]