Remploy: Providing employment opportunities for disabled people through supply chains

Remploy enterprises include:

• Remploy Automotive – providing supply chain solutions for the car industry;
• Remploy Building Products – products for the social housing sector;
• Remploy CCTV – operating CCTV cameras and control rooms;
• Remploy Furniture – supplying furniture to public and private sector clients;
• Remploy Packaging – providing packaging and printing services.

The enterprises operate on a commercial basis, and continue to expand by winning contracts with major organisations. For example, Remploy Packaging works with companies such as Waitrose and M&S, which spends over £500,000 with it annually. Those companies have been so impressed by the service provided, and the additional social benefits, that a number have proactively approached Remploy about potential further opportunities.

In the public sector, over 30 town centres are monitored by Remploy CCTV staff, while a third of the furniture in UK schools, colleges and universities is supplied by Remploy Furniture. Links have been developed with schools, local authorities and government departments, who often encourage contractors to provide opportunities for Remploy within their own supply chains.

Through a national network of town and city centre branches, Remploy’s employment service supports 20,000 people per year into mainstream employment with organisations including ASDA, BT and the police. In additional to recruitment, it provides a growing learning programme, helping disabled people develop transferrable skills before entering the jobs market.