The benefits of supported employment

Lauren McDonald (27) wants more employers to sign up for the supported employment programme run by North Lanarkshire Council.

In the past year 271 people received assistance, with 163 of them currently in work.

And employers are clearly happy with their new staff – 63 per cent are repeat business, including Asda, Gavin Shanks Timber, McDonalds, Tesco, Premier Inn, NHS and NLC.

Lauren was hired as a cleaner by Glasgow School of Art.

She said: “My contract had come to an end at Bannatynes Health Club in Stepps, as the member of staff I’d been covering for returned to work. I absolutely loved this job and was a bit sad to be looking for another. However after working with my job finding coach and attending an interview I got a job at Glasgow School of Art. I’m delighted to work as part of a small team and I’m really proud of this accomplishment.”

Service manager Maureen Cook added: “The businesses that work with us are doing so much more than recruiting a new employee, they are changing lives.”