Business In Action, IKEA Reading, sponsor Boyes Turner
A school for children with special educational needs (SEN) has nominated IKEA Reading’s people and culture team for the Business In Action award “for their outstanding support for young people with additional needs” including offering them jobs.
A nominator from Brookfields SEN School said: “IKEA have worked with us to make work experience and employment be both accessible and meaningful for young people with special educational needs.
“They have reviewed their recruitment process and now offer an accessible recruitment option which makes a tremendous difference for young people who struggle with the traditional interview route.”
IKEA have also supported the school’s careers week events by preparing young people for the world of work.
“We are absolutely thrilled that this support has led to five of our current and former pupils gaining both part-time and full-time employment in IKEA.
“In fact, one of our former pupils has won numerous customer service awards,” said the nominator.
They praised IKEA’s “sympathetic approach to recruitment and training” which focuses on the ability of young people rather than their learning disabilities.
IKEA all provided all the furniture and a fully-fitted kitchen for the school’s independent life skills centre in Pangbourne.
“The whole house was kitted out by volunteers and it created a fantastic environment for our young people to learn vital skills to support independent living,” they said.
“Our latest collaborative project involves us working with IKEA to set up a SEND parent and carer community group in our local IKEA store,” they added.
The Community Champion award is sponsored by Reading lawyers Boyes Turner.
