EmployAble.org.uk

03/11/2026

🎉 NEW STARTER ALERT!

A big congratulations to Dora, who is pictured here looking very proud after successfully interviewing for a Bank Homemaker role at Hamberley Care Homes' Brookwater House.

Brookwater House is an 80-bed modern care home for older people in the heart of Enfield. When Dora visited for the interview, she was most impressed by the vibrant music session taking place, with both residents and Homemakers singing along and playing instruments.

This, along with the sensitive and thoughtful way in which the interview was conducted by the home’s manager, Daniela Danciulescu, and Justyna, Head of Domestic Services, really boosted Dora's confidence.

Afterwards, she remarked: "I am very happy to have the opportunity to work here. It seems a lovely place to work."

02/11/2026

The Times and The Sunday Times has today reported on the Government’s plans to tackle youth unemployment, following comments by Chancellor John Healey describing the situation of almost one million young people not in education, employment or training as a “moral shame on this nation”:

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/john-healey-welfare-bill-benefits-spending-26nmvh8c2

The Milburn Review and a separate inquiry by Sir Stephen Timms, the Disability Minister, have strengthened the Government’s determination to improve employment rates through earlier intervention and more effective support.

Ministers are looking to learn from the Netherlands, where locally based youth hubs have helped achieve significantly higher employment and participation rates. There are plans to roll out more than 360 Dutch-style hubs across the UK.

EmployAble has put forward a proposal to the Pathways to Work Innovation Fund to establish hubs specifically for people with complex learning disabilities and autism.

There is clearly a growing commitment to ending reliance on benefits by investing in employment support. But this will only succeed if it is matched by opportunities for paid work.

EmployAble looks forward to playing a vital role in this effort, helping more people with learning disabilities and autism access sustainable employment and the opportunity to make a contribution through work.

The ex-cabinet minister’s review, due this month, will recommend ‘tough love’ and early intervention to get young people into work and reduce the benefits bill

30/10/2026

What does the Autumn Budget mean for disabled people and their families?

Learning Disability Today has examined the key announcements around the cost of living, Carer’s Allowance, education and welfare.

Read their report here:

Chancellor John Healey has announced the government's Autumn Budget, which he said would give Britain "breathing space now [and] hope for the future " amid the rising cost of living.

28/10/2026

We are supporting the free Ambitious about Autism webinar for autistic young people starting their job search.

Taking place from 10am on Wednesday 11 November, the online event will offer advice and guidance on how to find jobs, prepare applications and ask for adjustments during recruitment.

The webinar will be co-facilitated by an autistic young person who will share their own lived experiences of navigating the journey into employment.

This webinar is primarily aimed at autistic young people aged 18–25 who are not currently in education, employment or training and who have little or no previous work experience.

Free spaces can be booked here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RtgQfEYDSquyG17ZTw1GIg #/registration

26/10/2026

🏆 We are so excited to let you know that EmployAble has been shortlisted for the BASE - British Association for Supported Employment Awards 2026 in the Small Supported Employment/Social Enterprise Team category.

The awards celebrate achievement in supported employment and recognise the organisations and employers working to create inclusive employment opportunities.

In our first year, EmployAble.org.uk helped 35 people into sustainable paid employment, many of whom had been excluded from the workforce for years. The shortlisting recognises our approach – partnering with employers to create inclusive roles, matching people to the right jobs and providing ongoing support to help them succeed – which brings real benefits for candidates, businesses and the wider community.

We’re also delighted that two of our employer partners, DHL Supply Chain and The Grove, have been shortlisted for awards, with two more, Fladgate and Sands Catering London, receiving nominations.

We look forward to sharing more news and details with you in the run-up to the event this December.

23/10/2026

It’s wonderful to see one of our photo-shy candidates, who has autism and learning disabilities, getting to grips with his new role as a Kitchen Porter. 💙

We are hugely thankful to Robbie Laidlaw, Luciana Dascalu and James Bardell (pictured with our Tathiane Batista) at Thomas Franks Ltd, and Denis Sheehan of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, who made the match and helped create this magic!

22/10/2026

This week, we said a fond farewell to Jordan Mandell, EmployAble’s very first employee, with a celebratory team lunch to thank him for all his hard work, passion and energy.

Jordan said: "I’m incredibly proud to have been part of EmployAble’s journey from a small start-up to an organisation that has made a real difference to so many people’s lives. The greatest achievement has been seeing people rebuild their confidence, overcome barriers and find their way into employment.

"To have played a part in those journeys, and to have helped shape EmployAble from the very beginning, is something I will always look back on with enormous pride."

Thank you, Jordan, for everything you have brought to EmployAble and the candidates we support. We wish you every success and happiness in your future career. 💙

22/10/2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the situation of almost one million young people in the UK not being in education, employment or training as an "economic catastrophe and moral failure": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq0melgpre23o

At EmployAble, we are thankful that the government is at last taking stock of the employment crisis that exists. We look forward to the forthcoming review of young people and work and hope it leads to practical action to break down barriers and help more young people access meaningful paid employment.

Most especially, we are calling on the Government not to allow the plight of young autistic people and those with learning disabilities to get lost in all this noise. Employment rates for young autistic people and those with learning disabilities are between 50 and 75 points behind that of the general population, and that inequality is the real moral failure.

The UK faces "economic catastrophe" with one million young people not in work or training, the prime minister says.

16/10/2026

EmployAble CEO Beverley Jacobson and Employment Consultant Jordan Mandell attended Camden Council/Good Work Camden’s Jobs & Skills Event 2026, bringing together employers and jobseekers to create new opportunities and support employment across the London Borough of Camden. 💙

One particularly welcome feature was a dedicated Quiet Hour, allowing neurodivergent and disabled people to attend in a calmer environment before the main event.

Our team met with a range of employers and were delighted by their commitment to social value and inclusion.

Beverley said: “We look forward to continuing these conversations and exploring how we can work together to create more opportunities for autistic people and people with learning disabilities to access meaningful paid employment.”

A big thank you to all we met including Phillip Taylor, manager of the soon-to-open Morrisons Camden store, who has been with the company for 34 years; Raluca Farcasi from Tesco; Muhammad Yusuf Hussain from FGH Security; Dipo Master from Britannia Hampstead Hotel; Dimitrios Gianitsas from Veolia; Hilder Oppong from Caremark Camden; and Sofia from The Wesley.

15/10/2026

BREAKING NEWS: The Department for Work and Pensions - DWP has commissioned EmployAble to support 20 candidates with mild to moderate learning disabilities into employment!

If you have a mild to moderate learning disability, want to work and live in one of the following boroughs or areas – Ealing, Brent, Acton, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hayes, Hounslow, Kingston, Twickenham or Wandsworth – contact your local Jobcentre and ask to be referred to this programme.

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