Housing company top employment award

The Gateshead Housing Company has been given a prestigious employment award, for its positive work to recruit employees with disabilities.

Jobcentre Plus in Gateshead recently awarded the ’Disability Symbol’ to the housing company, in recognition of its good practice in recruiting and retaining people with disabilities.

The two-ticks Disability Symbol is given to employers who pledge to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of people with disabilities.

The company will now use the symbol on its recruitment adverts, website and other literature, as a clear sign that it is positive about the employment, training and development needs of people with disabilities.

The housing company, which manages just under 23,000 homes across Gateshead, now joins over 5,000 employers from both public and private sector organisations across the UK, in being able to use the symbol.

Angeline Brown, Employer Engagement Consultant (Pathways to Work) for Jobcentre Plus in Gateshead, congratulated The Gateshead Housing Company on achieving the award and said:

By using the symbol, it makes it clear that the company welcomes applications from people with disabilities for employment, and are positive about their abilities.

It also shows existing employees that the company values their contribution, and would treat them fairly, should they ever become disabled.

Janice Poole, Staff Development and Training Officer for the housing company
said: We were delighted to be given this award as a sign of our commitment to equality, and of us meeting the needs of prospective employees with disabilities.

Over the past year, we have been working closely with customers with disabilities to identify their needs for the services we will offer in the future.

And, by employing people with disabilities, companies like ours will also be much better placed to recognise, develop and deliver those services to our customers with disabilities living across the whole borough.

The Gateshead Housing Company advertises current employment opportunities on its website at www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/aboutus/jobs/index.asp

Other employers interested in the Disability Symbol award should contact their local Jobcentre, or log onto www.jobcentreplus.co.uk