We are delighted to announce that we have won a prestigious national award for our role in helping break down the barriers young people with disabilities, including autism, face when trying to enter the world of work and live independent lives. We won the Excellence in Equality & Inclusion award at the prestigious People in Law Awards.

In the past year, five young people have been offered paid employment with us after impressing with their attitude, skills and dedication during work placements offered by Stockport-based charity, Pure Innovations.

Pure Innovations partner with local businesses through a Supported Internship programme where individuals are able to get hands-on experience, develop their confidence and learn new skills. The programme they built with us include things many of us take for granted such as allowing enough time to get ready for work, planning a journey to work, and understanding what language is, or isn’t, appropriate in the workplace.

We believe their tailor-made programme has been pivotal in not only helping the young people enjoy their new roles in the workplace, but also to become more independent, confident, and self-assured individuals.

Rachel Halliwell, our People Development Specialist, said: “It was a very proud moment when we were announced as the winner for the award in Excellence in Equality & Inclusion. It is amazing to receive recognition for all the hard work we have done to help further develop and nurture our interns and colleagues.

“They are credit to themselves. They work so hard, have so much enthusiasm and bring so much to the business. We are extremely lucky to have these young adults working with us.  None had even entered a workplace before but now they are succeeding in, and enjoying, an aspect of life many of us take for granted.”

Adding that the firm had built a great partnership with Pure Innovations, a partnership that was featured on BBC NorthWest Tonight in September last year, Rachel added: “There is no doubt that this relationship has hugely contributed to our winning the award. Since 2018 Pure Innovations have supported us and helped us become a more inclusive place to work. I believe this partnership has been so successful due to our shared values and our commitment to putting the interns and colleagues at the heart of it all. We hope to continue to build on this over the coming months and years.”

Natalie Irvine, Employment Officer at Pure Innovations, said: “Since the beginning of our relationship with Horwich Farrelly the partnership, and the Supported Internship scheme, have gone from strength to strength. It’s great to work with such a fantastic company with a team of people that share the same values as us.

“With a 100% success rate, they have really opened a door of opportunities for our interns and it’s been amazing to watch each of them grow and develop over the year.

“It’s wonderful Horwich Farrelly have been recognised for their work in Equality and Inclusion. They truly deserve it.”

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