Sims plots employment scheme expansion

IT waste disposal firm to extend back-to-work initiative for disadvantaged people

Sims Recycling Solutions is to extend its Progressive Opportunities for Disadvantaged People scheme, which helps individuals with long-term health issues to find work.

The IT waste disposal firm launched the initiative in partnership with employment services provider Social Enterprise Pluss at its Dumfries recycling facility late last year.

The scheme allows disadvantaged people, including those with disabilities or long-term health issues, to gain work experience at Sims in order to secure permanent employment in the future.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, Jon Godfrey, product director at Sims Recycling Solutions, said that depending on the needs of the business, the company plans to take on some of the course participants on a permanent basis.

"The scheme allows people to gain experience across a cross section of the entire business," said Godfrey. "We have people working in sales, administrative and technical roles, and have opened up some of the more senior positions in the company, too."

The firm has run similar schemes in the past, said Godfrey, but this is the first time candidates have had the chance to work in-house at Sims.

"The [in-house] scheme is operating in Dumfries at the moment, but we are looking at introducing it at other sites," he said.

One of the reasons for this is the positive impact the scheme has had on staff morale, Godfrey claimed.

"This scheme represents a broadening and development of our corporate social responsibility, which has traditionally been heavily focused on the environmental side of what we do," he added.