Liam, Diageo Employee

Liam is one of a number of graduates who has secured a full time position in employment through the support of Enable Works. He joined Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol which has an outstanding collection of 200 brands across spirits and beer and sold in 180 countries. Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and with the help of Enable Works, Diageo has recognised the power of inclusion and the need to represent the communities they serve.

To support their aims of becoming a more inclusive workplace; the team at Diageo was supported by Enable Works to devise a supported internship programme, ‘We Are All Able’. Enable Works play a crucial role in the delivery of the programme, providing a comprehensive disability awareness and inclusive management education programme.

To date, 13 people have graduated through the programme including Liam, who previously struggled to find a job and who, through his own admission, he would not have been successful through Diageo’s traditional recruitment methods. Now a thriving and key member of the Diageo team, Liam said:

In recognition of this innovative and impactful programme, Diageo and Enable Works received Employer Partnership of the Year at the Employment Related Services Awards as well as Liam who was recognised as Modern Apprentice of the Year against 22,000 other modern apprentices.

Now a thriving and key member of the Diageo team, Liam said:

Progressing through to the apprenticeship has made the opportunities I have limitless. It has made me especially confident within myself and teaches me how to tell myself ‘I can do this!’ No matter how many people say, ‘you can’t do it’ because you’re having issues. It has made me the person I am and I believe that all people are equal, disability or otherwise.

We thoroughly enjoy being a partner of Enable Works. The knowledgeable team has really engaged our people and helped us to think differently about how we interact with and employ people who have a disability. They have brought to life the ways to enable people who have a disability to find work and develop their skills: Claire McKendrick, Operations Manager.