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Business-led initiative expands to Liverpool City Region, offering a blueprint for tackling disability employment gaps<\/strong><\/p>\n Whitbread, the UK\u2019s largest hospitality company and owner of Premier Inn, has expanded its\u00a0Thrive programme\u2014a pioneering, employer-led initiative supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into work\u2014into the\u00a0Liverpool City Region.<\/p>\n The expansion includes a new\u00a0mini-Premier Inn training facility\u00a0at Wirral Met College, where students gain hands-on experience in hospitality roles.<\/p>\n Completely indistinguishable from a regular hotel, right down to \u2018do not disturb\u2019 signs on the doors and the tea and coffee making facilities Premier Inn guests are familiar with, it features three en-suite bedrooms, a reception desk, corridor and linen room.<\/p>\n With only\u00a04.8% of people with learning difficulties in paid employment, Thrive offers a\u00a0scalable, practical model\u00a0for how businesses can help close the disability employment gap. The programme helps scores of young learners nationwide and puts Whitbread firmly on the path to achieving its ambition of 100 supported internships from special needs educational establishments into paid employment every year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be more delighted to bring Thrive to the Liverpool City Region. Thrive shows how businesses can lead the way in making jobs more accessible to everyone,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Simon Ewins, Managing Director of Premier Inn UK Hotels & Restaurants<\/strong>. \u201cWe believe there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. Thrive shows how the private sector can meet the moment: It\u2019s not just a corporate initiative\u2014it\u2019s a real-world demonstration of how inclusive employment can work at scale. Huge thanks to everyone who have worked so hard on this project, in particular CLC Group and Holden & Lee who have made the build a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said<\/strong>: \u201cI\u2019m delighted to see a major company like Whitbread finding innovative ways to help close the disability employment gap and unlock the huge benefits of work for disabled people. Alongside our historic \u00a31 billion investment in disability employment support, programmes such as Thrive show that together, business and government can break down barriers and give disabled people the opportunities they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n The programme is expected to support an additional\u00a036 students annually\u00a0in the Liverpool City Region, with many progressing into supported internships or permanent roles.<\/p>\n Gill Banks, <\/strong>Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College said:<\/strong> \u201cWe are thrilled to be working in partnership with Whitbread to bring the Thrive programme to\u00a0Wirral Met College and the Liverpool City Region.\u00a0This collaboration between education and industry provides young people with SEND the opportunity to develop practical, real-world skills in a setting where they feel safe, supported and valued. With access to the fully equipped, on-site Premier Inn\u00a0training facility at our Conway Park Campus, students will build confidence and gain the experience they need to take meaningful steps towards employment. It\u2019s a wonderful step forward in creating a more inclusive future for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n As the Government seeks to reduce economic inactivity and improve employment outcomes for disabled people, Thrive aligns with national ambitions and demonstrates how inclusive employment can be both socially impactful and commercially viable \u2014 offering a model that other businesses can learn from and adopt.<\/p>\n Thrive is part of Whitbread\u2019s\u00a0Force for Good\u00a0programme and has already helped\u00a0hundreds of young people\u00a0into work in Premier Inn hotels and beyond.<\/p>\n