We Are All Able: Hear from our interns and Group Members

As a priority focus, We Are All Able (WAAA) supports the employment and development of people with a disability at Diageo while driving the understanding of disability across the business through education and training.

Over the last year We Are All Able has partneredwith Fairstart Scotland, a government funded employability agency whosupportpeople, bespoke to their physical, mental and workplace needs, into employment in Scotland.

This fruitful partnershiphas allowed Diageo to offer career opportunities to registered disabled workers in Scotland, and successfully hire three interns and one apprentice to join the manufacturing site Sheildhall, the world's largest Scotch Whisky bottling facility. Theteam at Shieldhall have also been educating our employees to support people of all abilities through a series of training courses in partnership with Enable Scotland covering topics such as autism awareness, sensory impairment and assistive technology.

Thesite was recently awarded an Inclusive Workplace Award through SUSE, the lead partner in the Disability Employment Gap Public Social Partnership (PSP), commissioned by the Scottish Government.

We thought it would be a great time to catch up with Claire McKendrick from the We Are All Able group alongside Liam Coyle - Material Store Operator and Seanpaul Mullen - Site Engineering Operator who were part of the internship programmein Sheildhall.

What's it been like working at Sheildhall?

'I think Diageo is a great place to work, the people on site made me feel welcome from the first time I walked up to the gatehouse! I think this welcoming culture is the main reasonmy confidence grewso quickly.' SeanPaulMullen

'Diageo have offered me the experience of working in production factories and has provided me with opportunities to develop my positive working relationships and further my career.' LiamCoyle

What's been your favourite part about working for Diageo?

'Diageo's culture has made me valued as an employee and I am given the freedom to succeed in my own way.' Liam Coyle

'I was trusted to do jobs on my own which allowed me to grow as an individual and learn loads of new skills that I can use in the future' SeanPaulMullen

Claire, what's it like being part of the We Are All Able Employee Resource Group at Diageo?

'I absolutely love being a part of the WAAA group.  The passion everyone has for making a change is unbelievable and I really feel that we represent everything that Diageo stands for.  The difference the internships have made to Shieldhall is not measurable in normal KPIs , it is in how the culture and attitudes have changed.'

It has recently been announced that Diageo's Shieldhall site has been awarded an Inclusive Workplace Award through SUSE, how do you think this will impact Diageo?

'We are delighted to have been recognised by SUSE and we will continue to look for new and improved ways to make our workplace more diverse and accessible for all. The perspective and understanding that is brought when different people come together has been the best part of the programme.  Personally, I have learned lots too - it has been great helping the interns and having my thinking stretched on how to get the programme up and running.'