Breaking Barriers graduates address global conference

Breaking Barriers, a partnership run in collaboration with Enable, ScottishPower and the University of Strathclyde, graced an international stage at the Zero Project Conference at the United Nations offices in Vienna.

The initiative, launched in 2018 with the goal of supporting young people with learning disabilities to transition to higher education and employment, was recognised at the annual global meeting for innovating disability inclusion.

Connecting young people with learning disabilities to leading UK business schools and major employers, the programme offers accredited qualifications and valuable work experience. To date, 185 young people with disabilities have completed the programme, with 95% progressing to positive outcomes.

Joe Kingdom opened the conference in front of over 1,000 international delegates plus a global audience watching the livestream. Having gained work experience at ScottishPower in 2019 through the Breaking Barriers initiative and attended the University of Strathclyde, he’s now employed by Enable and is training to be a paralegal. He also retains strong links with ScottishPower speaking to its staff as an advocate for the programme and widening access to employment for people with learning disabilities.

Joe said, “Before Breaking Barriers, I lacked confidence, but I wanted to take the next steps in my life, and look at me now. Completing Breaking Barriers and the work placement at ScottishPower was the best thing that could have happened to me. Telling my story in the United Nations building was an honour and a privilege and I hope that Breaking Barriers can be an international example for other countries to follow.”

Matthew Gallery, an alumnus of the Breaking Barriers programme, joined ScottishPower’s Year in Industry Pre-Employment Programme in 2024 where he has now secured a year-long paid work placement. Initially he joined the Breaking Barriers programme to overcome barriers to employment and university learning by having one-to-one employability support.

He engaged in weekly lab sessions during his semester at the University of Strathclyde’s Science Faculty, participated in Enable workshops with other students to develop his communication skills and confidence, and completed a six-week work-placement with Balfour Beatty.

He said: “Before enrolling on the programme, I was struggling with anxiety and low esteem brought on by struggling to find long-term employment. Part of the reason for this was that my lack of work experience limited the jobs I could apply for. My confidence and social skills have increased massively thanks to the support provided by Breaking Barriers.”

Matthew shared his journey with the University of Strathclyde and ScottishPower in a session focused on job creation for persons with learning disabilities which was chaired by Enable CEO Theresa Shearer FRSE.

She said, “Breaking Barriers is a pioneering demonstration of the power of public, private and social sector organisations working in partnership to address societal challenges. Ensuring we open opportunities to everyone and do not exclude people from realising their talent is essential not only to being a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive society, but also to our national economic prosperity. Presenting Breaking Barriers to this international audience highlighted how this innovative programme can be one of Scotland’s greatest exports for future generations.”

Mairi Elder, Social Projects and Sector Education Manager, added: “Breaking Barriers students amaze and inspire us each year. We are very proud of Joe and Matthew for their dedication and achievements. Their invitation to ZeroCon25 shows that with the right support and opportunities, barriers can simply fall away, allowing their true potential to shine on a global stage.”

Academic Director for Breaking Barriers and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation at Strathclyde Business School, Dr Konstantinos Tomazos, said: “As a socially progressive university we are committed to widening access and enabling students to realise their full potential and Breaking Barriers is a great demonstration of that.

“It’s always a privilege to see all the students grow in confidence as they complete the course, especially as many of them tell us that they have often felt underestimated, and it's wonderful to see Joe and Matthew share their success stories."

To view our Gallery of photographs, please click here