Member Article

Aroma of coffee helps people with disabilities into work

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is filling UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centres after the company agreed to back a charity that specialises in helping people with disabilities into work.

UKSE agreed to provide free space in its Centres at Redcar and Hartlepool for the highly successful Aroma coffee house outlets run by The North East Centre for Independent Living (NECIL).

NECIL was set up by a group of disabled entrepreneurs eight years ago, and works with people from various levels of training to provide business expertise and support.

The charity now has five Aroma outlets in the area, including Norton, Middlesbrough and Redcar Library, providing jobs and training for more than 50 people. The UKSE Aroma outlets supply a wide range of coffees and other drinks, sandwiches and cakes whilst other outlets also offer salads, an outside catering service and on-line ordering.

Diane Roberts, NECIL’s Chief Executive, said: “The Aroma business model is proving to be a real success, and we are now going national with it and looking at franchising. “It works on a number of different levels as it not only provides business training but also involves integration with the community and raises awareness about people with disabilities and exactly what they can achieve.”

Nick Johnson of UK Steel Enterprise said: “UKSE’s aim is to help improve the economies of steel areas by creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurs in our business communities. We are delighted to have an exciting business project such as Aroma operating in both our Centres and to be supporting NECIL in the highly valuable work they do. Aroma has proved a big hit with tenants, visitors and the UKSE team.”

Information on NECIL and its work is available at www.necil.org.uk. For more about UK Steel Enterprise go to www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .