In England, just 4.8% of adults with learning disabilities are in paid employment (NHS Digital, 2023). But this isn’t because they don’t want to be in the workplace. They can work, and they want to work. In fact, with the help of our innovative training programmes, 80% of our young people have attained paid roles.

One of the most vital pillars in a candidate’s journey is the collaboration between Team Domenica and our employer partners. Join us as we take a deep dive into our relationship with Premier Inn. Together, we’re creating bright futures for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Kieren’s Premier Inn journey

Kieren joined our programmes in 2021, as he tried to navigate the seemingly inaccessible world of work and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The training he received at Team Domenica allowed him to develop the skills and experience needed to thrive in the workplace, and beyond.

After completing three, seven-week placements in his first-year, Kieren moved onto a supported internship at Premier Inn, Gatwick North. With the help of his Job Coach and colleagues, he began completing an increasing number tasks independently. From clearing plates as part of the breakfast service, to pouring pints on a busy Friday night behind the bar, Kieren grew into his role with confidence (and a great sense of humour!).

Despite being the largest Premier Inn in the country, Kieren was allowed the space, time and training to thrive in the hotel. He quickly became an integral part of the team and was offered a paid position in record time – just six weeks! Discover more about Kieren’s journey by watching the below video or reading his success story here.

Employer Partner Celebration

In July, we hosted our annual Employer Partner Celebration, a celebratory event recognising our employers and the work they’re doing to improve diversity within the workplace. Attendees can learn from our candidates, meet like-minded businesses and celebrate their success.

Kieren’s manager, Ollie, attended this celebration. Inspired by the community they’re a part of, his team decided they wanted to do more to support our vision. They wanted to help facilitate further opportunities within their hotels and continue making a positive impact. They therefore invited us talk at their regional meeting. When asked about working with Kieren, Ollie said:

When Kieren comes to work, he always brings his A-game. He’s really passionate about what he’s doing and he’s driven to really deliver for the guests. The relationship that the team have with Kieren is very unique and strong too; he brings so much energy to the workplace, I feel like it naturally brings everyone together.

Team Domenica present at Premier Inn’s regional meeting

In July, our employment team presented to a number of Premier Inn’s Sussex-based hotel managers. This included Gatwick North and Lewes, who have both hosted Team Domenica supported interns. It was a fun and collaborative day where our team shared our story and described how we work with employers. They brought the presentation to life with moving anecdotes and candidate success stories – including Kieren’s, of course!

The presentation fuelled lots of interesting conversations and questions. Excitingly, Premier Inn are hoping to get even more involved in our work going forward. Subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to know the latest updates on this story, and more.