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DurhamEnable has recently worked in partnership with Hotel Indigo Durham to support Alistair, aged 20, into employment within the hotel’s bar team.

DurhamEnable and Hotel Indigo support Alistair into employment – video transcript.pdf

Alistair previously found interviews challenging and shared that he lacked confidence when looking for work. With tailored one-to-one supoprt from DurhamEnable, he was able to access an opportunity that played to his interests and strengths.

After attending a breakfast interview with Hotel Indigo, Alistair’s enthusiasm for the bar environment stood out. He was offered the chance to join the team, where he has continued to excel, receiving excellent feedback from customers, colleagues, and his workplace coach.

Kirsty Ward, Operations Manager at Hotel Indigo Durham, described Alistair as an integral part of the bar team and praised the positive impact of DurhamEnable’s support, highlighting the confidence, growth, and dedication Alistair has shown since starting his role.

Alistair says the personalised support he received has been invaluable and has helped him overcome self-doubt and achieve his goal of gaining employment.

When employers and support services work together, the positive outcomes that can be achieved are invaluable. If your business is looking to hire, hire with DurhamEnable. Get in Touch today.

Does your organisation have a member of staff who might be at risk of falling out of employment due to a disability or health condition?

Connect to Work transcript.pdf

These can include learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health conditions and multiple and Neurodivergent conditions.

If your organisation is based in County Durham DurhamEnable can engage with and work in partnership with you and your staff to help your organisation offer support to retain staff.

DurhamEnable can help you bridge that gap by working through the challenges together to ensure inclusion and organisational change. We can also provide bespoke training for your staff to enable your employees in a positive way.

To find out more contact us.

We would like to invite your organisation to join our growing network of businesses committed to ensuring that the County Durham workforce reflects the diversity within our local community through inclusive employment practices.

Whether you’re already committed to inclusive employment or just starting out, this is a brilliant opportunity to learn, connect and make a real impact.

An Inclusive Employer Network meeting offers the following:

• Practical support and advice for inclusive hiring and retention.
• Real insights from people with lived experience
• A unique Reverse Job Fair, which is an opportunity to meet job candidates in a unique way.
• Useful tools and resources you can take away
• Quality networking with employers and jobseekers

The Inclusive Employer Network is free to attend but please note places are limited.

Next meeting

The next Inclusive Employer Network meeting takes place at Durham University between 9.00am and 12noon on the 19 March 2026.

You can book your place here: Inclusive Employer Network meeting.

How Silver Tree Primary School embraced hiring DurhamEnable – video transcript.pdf

When Silver Tree Primary School Head Teacher, Helen Grainger, first connected with DurhamEnable, she was looking for a lunchtime supervisor. DurhamEnable put forward Karen who has a learning difficulty and needed some simple adjustments for her job interview – the interview questions in advance and written materials on yellow paper.

“DurhamEnable made the process virtually hiccup-free,” says Helen. “They obviously prepared her really well. So, when she came into the interview, she was performing at her best. She’d read the questions previously, so she delivered a response that she was confident with, which led us to believe that she was a good fit for our school.”

Later, Helen reached out to DurhamEnable when a position as a cleaner became available. The led to meeting Marie, a member of the deaf community who communicates largely through British Sign Language (BSL). With support from DurhamEnable and a BSL interpreter for the interview, Silver Tree Primary welcomed Marie to the team.

“Ultimately, Marie is an absolutely fantastic cleaner. In the two hours, she can get our school spick and span,” says Helen.

Helen adds, “We’ve been lucky enough to get two employees who have brought a range of skills, their own talents, and diversity into our workplace. And we are all the better for having that.”

DurhamEnable supports both the employer and the employee, no one’s left to figure it our alone. It’s a real partnership that helps people build jobs for life.

To learn more about inclusive employment and how we can help your business, head to our Get in Touch page.

When DurhamEnable Job Coach, Laura Crane, first met Marie, she was determined to help her find meaningful work. Marie, who is a member of the deaf community and communicates using British Sign Language (BSL), had struggled to access opportunities that reflected her skills and motivation.

It was clear from day one that Marie was dedicated, she just needed the right opportunity and an employer willing to adapt.

How DurhamEnable helped Marie find work – video transcript.pdf

Working together with Head Teacher Helen Grainger and a BSL interpreter, DurhamEnable supported Marie through the recruitment process for a cleaning role at Silver Tree. Impressed by her effort and attitude, the school quickly offered Marie a permanent contract.

Today, Marie is thriving – fully settled in her role, valued by her team, and proud of her work.

“Disability doesn’t define who someone is,” adds Laura.

At DurhamEnable, we’ve found that employers who embrace inclusivity often find some of the most committed and hardworking people out there. That’s what supported employment is all about, breaking barriers so everyone can shine.

To learn more about inclusive employment and how your organisation can get involved, head to our Get in Touch page.