16 June, 2025
By Nick Kerle – Head of Production at The Felix Project
June Job hunting is demanding, the applications take time and effort, and if you get through to interview stage, you need to research, sell yourself and talk confidently. For most people it’s a stressful experience, but for some these steps are much more daunting. Those with a learning disability or those who are neurodivergent often find gaining employment a challenge too far. According to research just 4.7% of people with a learning disability, who are known to their local authority in England, are in paid work. But it can be done and as we come into Learning Disability Week, The Felix Project is celebrating not just one success, but two.
Number one, is that the two people who completed our first ever Packing Traineeship are now enjoying full time employment with leading food manufacturer, Greencore. Number two is that two new people have just started in Felix’s Kitchen on the second round of the scheme. As Head of Production at The Felix Project, I get to do a lot of different things, but one of the areas I particularly love is our work to help people get jobs in the food industry, the sector is massive and calling out for people. So, when we had the opportunity to partner with Unity Works, a London based charity that creates opportunities and showcases the talents of people with a learning disability, to design a programme that would empower two young adults, with additional needs, to become ready and confident to take on long-term meaningful work, I knew this was a project that I wanted to see through.
Unity Works were amazing, helping us create an accessible job description. They identified and put forward candidates who they have or were currently supporting, then once the shortlist was decided, they helped create a recruitment day which focused on practical skills and reduced the importance of the “dreaded” interview, which was also adapted, as candidates had the questions beforehand so they could prepare.
The two successful applicants, Tomide and Israel, were employed by The Felix Project on a six-month London Living Wage contract. This was huge as neither of them had ever been able to secure paid work before, despite trying for years and between them applying for countless roles.
Our programme taught them the practicalities needed to secure work in the food manufacturing industry, covering health and safety, food hygiene and providing the hands-on experience of working in a professional environment. It also aimed to improve confidence in the workplace, their mental health and well-being. Both have called the programme transformative and reported feeling more confident, they have recognised their own skills and value and are today putting it into practice as production operatives at Greencore’s food to go manufacturing site in Bow. Greencore has a strong company ethos of developing their people through their existing company career pathways to reach their full potential, so I know that the future looks promising for Tomide and Israel, should they wish to remain as production operatives or to grow their careers further with Greencore.
I am sure there are many workplaces in the food industry, similar to Greencore, that would love to be able to employ more neurodivergent people or those with a learning disability, but it may feel challenging. There are considerations and modifications that may be needed, such as adapting the application processes, inductions and induction periods, which may take longer and require more of people’s time and general investment, which for some is just not possible. Our programme bridges that gap; Felix becomes that safe space where people can learn what is needed. It provides a stepping stone for them to go from no work to full time employment.
Tomide and Israel both thrived and are now productive colleagues within the food industry. Their success is providing inspiration for the next employees. Our two new assistants are just starting out, they are stepping into a new world, which comes with some daunting prospects, but I know they will succeed. This round of funding means Felix and Unity Works will be there to help them become the next success stories. I would love a scenario where we have the funding to continue to provide this programme again and again and again, a scenario where food manufacturing companies know they can rely on The Felix Project to train a long line of success stories.
