An Post and Ability Focus partner for training delivery
Ability Focus is delighted to announce our partnership with An Post to deliver disability awareness training to staff from across their business in 2022.
An Post is a major commercial organisation providing a wide range of postal, logistics, retail and financial services across Ireland. It is one of Ireland's largest companies directly employing over 9,500 people through its national network of retail, processing and delivery points.
An Post plays a central role in the Irish economy and its people and services are synonymous with Irish life. Established in 1984 and recently embarking on a new journey of transformation by moving from the old world of traditional letters and cash to a business which now encompasses financial services and ecommerce parcels. An Post has made big moves to become a sustainable, profitable business with resources and expertise that helped to keep Ireland connected and trading throughout the pandemic. Underpinning these changes is their commitment to community and inclusivity. Their purpose is simple - To act for the common good and to improve the quality of life in Ireland, now and for generations to come.
In line with their commitment to inclusivity they are striving to develop an inclusive workplace where everyone feels accepted, supported and valued - a place where every employee can access opportunities and resources and where they can bring their best selves to work.
To support this vision and with the support of unions representing staff, a top priority in their new 2022-2023 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy is to build better knowledge and understanding about disabilities across the organisation. With well over 650,000 people in Ireland living with a recognised disability, a key aspect to ensuring a truly inclusive organisation is to focus on Ireland's most diverse group - disability. The first step in this process for An Post is to roll out disability awareness training across the company.
Heather Lowry is the Head of Talent, Diversity & Organisational Development at An Post and has been the driving force behind putting disability at the forefront of An Post's D&I strategy for 2022. According to Heather:
"In An Post, we recognise that to be fully inclusive we need to foster a culture that encourages collaboration and equality so all employees can thrive. Sometimes disability tends to be placed a little further down the D&I agenda as it can be seen as a sensitive and complicated area to focus on. Supporting disability is at the core of the An Post D&I strategy for the year ahead."
Following a thorough procurement process, Ability Focus was chosen as An Post's preferred disability awareness training partner for 2022. Disability Awareness Training is currently being delivered via live online group training and live online webinar training to various participant groups across the Republic of Ireland, starting in March and continuing throughout the year. Heather continued:
"Ability Focus are providing comprehensive customised disability awareness training for different participant groups. This will provide a solid foundation on which our employees can build their knowledge about both visible and invisible disabilities. Ability Focus will also provide us with training on reasonable accommodation and inclusive recruitment which will really support us to better recruit, engage and support employees with disabilities in the future."
Stephen Kelly is the Managing Director of Ability Focus and will be the main contact point for all training delivery over the coming year. Stephen delivers live online disability awareness training to some of the best-known organisations in the public and private sectors each week and has an industry-leading knowledge of effective programme delivery to large groups of people.
"We are delighted to have been selected to partner with An Post to deliver training to over 2,500 employees this year. From our initial meeting with Heather to discuss the roll out of disability awareness training we were extremely impressed by Heather's commitment to ensuring that training is delivered to employees from all business areas across An Post. An Post is an iconic Irish brand and for Ability Focus to partner with such a well-known organisation truly is an honour for us".
Programme delivery will be wide ranging and delivered via a number of formats including live online group training to small groups, as well as live online webinar training to larger numbers of participants. Programme duration will vary from group to group and as will be delivered in a high impact and contemporary style. Stephen continued:
"An Post and Ability Focus will be working together to ensure delivery of high quality meaningful disability awareness training to An Post employees. Heather and her team have been working closely with us to ensure programmes are customised for delivery to An Post Board Members, Senior Management Team, line managers, postal operatives and clerical workers. This wide-ranging commitment to disability awareness training really demonstrates an organisation who fully understands the importance of disability inclusion."
Training commenced March 2022.
If you are considering Disability Awareness Training for your organisation, please get in touch with Ability Focus by calling (01) 699 1150 or email info@abilityfocus.ie and we will be happy to discuss a customised programme to suit your disability training needs.
Ability Focus is the leading provider of disability awareness training in Ireland. Our training programmes are CPD accredited, IITD Endorsed and delivered by qualified trainers with over seventeen years' experience working in disability inclusion.
