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Regional Employability Award

Winner: Andy’s Kars

I knew how reluctant people were to employ me, yet I knew I was a good mechanic capable of compensating for my disability.

Andy’s Kars, a small family run garage in Bar Hill, Cambridge offers employment opportunities to those individuals so often stigmatised by the society in which we live.  Andy’s Kars ethos states there is no such thing as “can’t do”, and employ people who have a disability or are from vulnerable groups (e.g. lone parents).

Andy’s Kars have laid out their workshop specifically to meet the needs of a disabled workforce, including controls mounted at wheelchair height and car lifts with clear floor space underneath for easy access. Even the spanners and recycling bins are colour coded to make life easier.  The health and safety manual contains drawings rather than text, meaning it is easy to see at a glance how things should be done.

Not surprisingly, customers come from far and wide because of their social ethos. Many disabled drivers come quite simply because their needs are understood.

Impact

  • Andy’s Kars employs 10 people – 8 with varying degrees of disabilities
  • Managing Director, Andy Kent spoke at the Employment Matters Conference in September resulting in Lincoln Collage setting up part of their workshop to enable people with disabilities to access the vocational course
  • In the last five years, the total number of hours taken by staff for sickness was only 40

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