BBC Radio 5 Live – Disability in a workplace

Avid BBC Radio 5 Live listener shares his experience of disability in the workplace. George Dobbie shares his experience on positive support and training for disabled people in the workplace.

A former customer of local employment and skills specialist Seetec, George Dobbie from Hertfordshire this weekend shared his heartfelt story of disability in the workplace, and his own story of the support he received with the team on air on BBC Radio 5 Live. 

As an avid listener of the show, George called in to the Stephen Nolan programme on BBC Radio 5 Live one evening to join the discussion about disability in the workplace. Phoning in about his own story, to share his perspective on the matter, with his positivity on the support currently being received by many disabled people across the country, the BBC programme invited him in to talk about his own story and why he thinks the UK has such a good record on supporting disabled people when needed.

George, now aged 32, was finding it difficult to begin his journey into the world of work. After being introduced to Seetec through the government funded Work Choice programme, a programme designed to give tailored employment support for people with physical and mental health conditions. George was offered the support he needed and to progress into work and started working at Allianz in March 2016. Two and a half years later, George now works in the customer service department and is still thoroughly enjoying being part of the company. 

George Dobbie said “It was great to be able to talk about a subject so close to my heart to a huge audience like BBC Radio 5 Live. As a fan of the show anyway, it was a pleasure to finally be a part of the show as I want people to hear the positive side of having a disability and not just the negative. Once I got the help I needed  through Seetec I was able to complete an Institute of Leadership and Management Course (ILM) which  led me to find employment with Allianz Insurance who have been very support. It’s a great honour to be invited on after phoning in on the show and I hope it helps so many other people in the UK who are in a similar position to me. I can’t thank BBC Radio 5 Live enough for giving me this platform to share my story.”

Alexis Grant, Client Liaison Consultant at Seetec, joined George on the show and discussed how the employment and skills specialist has been able to help people from all walks of life back into employment, and help to educate those looking to kick start their career. Aaditya Sisodia, a fellow employee at Allianz with George, was also in attendance on the programme, talking about the practical ways in which their workforce helps to retain disabled staff and the benefit that brings to the business as a whole.”

Seetec is one of the UK’s leading skills, employment and training providers and helps support people and businesses to grow their talent. They currently offer traineeship pathways in business administration, sport and recreation, retail, hospitality and digital skills.

The latest Labour Market Statistics published today shows the employment rate at a record high of 74.2% and the unemployment rate has fallen to 5%, the lowest rate since October 2005, according to official figures. The unemployment total fell to 1.67 million in the February-to-April period, down 20,000 from the previous quarter.

ERSA’s Chief Executive Kirsty McHugh, said:

“These positive headlines from the government continue to show the positive impact of employment support providers on the UK labour force.

“The Work Programme alone has, since it began five years ago, helped over 500,000 people into sustained employment, which has helped to change lives, communities and businesses across the UK.”