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Kite blog

Working Towards Diversity With The Help Of TESS

By Gavin Ashe • Thursday 21st August 2014

Hopefully you all know by now that we are an employee-owned business, and have been since the day we started in 2001. Employee ownership is hugely important to us, as the underlying ethos of Kite has always been ‘customer satisfaction matters so much more when you own the businesses’, and we have always wanted our employees to share in the rewards that come from giving excellent customer service.

As well as this we are always keen to give opportunities to young people, and that’s why we have always operated a graduate training programme across all our branches to give newly qualified graduates the opportunity to experience ‘real-world’ business and apply the knowledge they gained at University to accounting, marketing, account management and business development. Our graduates are all mentored by a senior partner and given the tools to work their way up the business and teach new members the skills they have learnt.

kieranTESS

As well as this we have worked in partnership with TESS – The Employment Support Service based in Coventry, who specialise in getting disabled people in to paid work. Whilst looking for a new member of our Warehouse Operations team we came across the organisation, they were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and introduced us to Kieran.

Kieran is now a valued member of the team and works primarily as the Cleaning Operative for our large scale Warehouse that dispatches the goods you order every day. Kieran has autism and so the routine based work he does here at Kite suits his needs, however since being here he has not been afraid to help wherever needed – often loading and unloading our trucks and preparing the large and bulky items for packing. He is everything we look for in a Kite partner – motivated, enthusiastic, hard-working and always happy to pitch in with his team members if required.

Most recently, TESS launched a promotional video to inform businesses in the Midlands about the service they offer and Kieran has a starring role. The video focuses on varying case studies throughout the Coventry area about people with disabilities who have found rewarding and stimulating jobs, and you can hear from their employers to hear what they think about TESS. Please take a look below at the video, and if you are considering a similar philosophy for your workforce call the TESS team on 024 7678 5600.