Christian Salvesen honoured with disability award

In January 2004 Christian Salvesen won a prestigious 'Leading the Way Award' from Remploy, the leading disability specialists for the company's Motherwell depot in Lanarkshire. The visit to the depot by Scotland's First Minister, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP is in recognition of this achievement and the work that Christian Salvesen is doing to open up employment opportunities for disabled people in transport.

Remploy's Leading the Way Awards, now in its seventh year, recognise employers which actively support disabled people in achieving their potential through work. Christian Salvesen has been commended for showing innovation and imagination in an industry where employment of disabled people has traditionally been difficult.

Since 2001, the Motherwell depot has worked closely with Remploy, advertising all jobs with the agency, to place 10 people in work at the Motherwell site. Christian Salvesen was praised for its training in administration, hazardous goods handling, CPC, HGV, van and fork-lift truck driving and making changes to the workplace to help people into work and to progress.

The visit on Friday 16th January 2004, by the Rt Hon Jack McConnell, highlights the success of the scheme. Recent successes include one member of staff quickly progressing to qualify as a forklift truck operator, and a driver with a progressive visual impairment securing a senior traffic office role. The work has led to Remploy in Scotland using its vehicles to support prospective recruits into transport roles.

Ray Fletcher, HR & External Communications Director, Remploy commented: "All too often industry and commerce are missing out on people with valuable skills and experience because they are wary about employing someone with a disability. These awards are designed to recognise those employers which demonstrate best practice in employment of people with disabilities."

Tom Craik, Depot Manager commented: "Recognition by Remploy and the visit by the First Minister has been a tremendous boost to everyone involved. The depot culture is to employ people on the basis of ability and to invest in ensuring they are able to progress. Over the past two years Christian Salvesen has developed strong links with Remploy and the benefits on both sides are plain to see."