ARAMARK HAS been recognised for its efforts to give work opportunities to disadvantaged people, by receiving the Business Partnership Award from disability charity, Enham Trust.
The award celebrates the work of Aramark at its client site, the Army Headquarters in Andover, Hampshire. There, the company provides a range of services including catering and cleaning.
The accolade was given to Aramark – described by the Enham Trust as “remarkable” and “an understanding, conscientious business” – ahead of 50 other nominees. Its partnership with Enham Trust’s Work Programme finds work for disadvantaged people in the local area, who now have regular work with Aramark as cleaners at the site.
Denise Stock, Employment Engagement Officer at Enham Trust who nominated Aramark for the award, said: “We are so pleased that we have been able to work with Aramark… an understanding employer keen to help disadvantaged people by offering them employment, excellent training opportunities and benefits, giving them the chance to support themselves and their families.”
Enham Trust believes that not only has working with Aramark enabled many people to live independently, it has also raised their overall confidence and motivated them to continue achieving in other aspects of their lives.
One example is 18-year-old Work Programme participant Ryan. According to Enham Trust, finding work with Aramark has been genuinely life changing for him. When first referred to the Work Programme, Ryan had never worked, lacked confidence and had begun to ‘drift’; now he’s enjoying every aspect of working life, even the early morning starts!
Ian Nuttall, Aramark’s Site Manager at Andover who received the award, said: “Our partnership with Enham Trust puts into practice two core values. The first is Enham Trust’s strapline ‘The Power of Yes’, which is all about positivity, tackling life head on and realising the art of the possible.
“The second is Aramark’s mission to ‘deliver experiences that enrich and nourish lives’. We believe strongly in supporting local communities and giving people a helping hand to achieve a better life. However, our success wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of Aramark’s supervisors and assistants on site. They are the people who train our new members of staff and then integrate into a way of life some haven’t encountered before – paid work. They are the people who really make this partnership a success.”
