Supporting Joseph on site

Posted 30/11/2021

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer, supporting and utilising the talents that disabled people can bring to our workplace. Working closely with our sub-contractor MAC Scaffolding it has been wonderful to see scaffold trainee Joseph working on our site at Stonebridge, where last week he received an award.

Joseph, who is diagnosed with multiple autistic spectrum disorders, was given the award for helping to break down barriers in construction and to help promote a positive image. Since he started on site a few months ago, he has taken to being on site amazingly and has really shown that people with disabilities and special needs do have a place on construction sites.

Joseph comments about his time on site, “I for one can say that Higgins has been nothing but helpful in regards to my needs; they have treated me very nicely and this has made it easy for me to work for them. They took me on without a second thought and took all my needs and issues into consideration. They have been nothing but friendly and welcoming whenever I am on site.

“I have a lot of issues and knowing that I’m working every day gives me a huge boost to my confidence, my fitness levels and my mental health and well-being. It’s funny how after all these years of going to special schools for handicapped young people, I found the most amount of help and understanding right here, on a construction site.

“Higgins has been one of the most disability-friendly places I have ever been to, and if I were in need of work, I would highly recommend this firm.”

Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.