APRIL 2024 | 27 |
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known for the pastoral care of his players . I ’ ve tried to bring the ethos of me being ‘ coach ’ to the shopfloor . Lots of our staff love football and this understanding and respect of sport levels the playing field . So , for instance , there was a time I had to talk to the team about a challenging job and I said to them afterwards , “ if this was half time and we were down , what would you expect me to say ?” I wanted to show them that we ’ re all in this together . I wasn ’ t telling them off , I wanted to know how we could ’ ve done better – from them .
“ They understood where I was coming from . That ’ s because I understand where they ’ re coming from . Taking the time to get to know your staff means you can use it for the better of your business
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. Then you are really making the most of the people around you , their skills , knowledge and potential . Knowing the inherent qualities and personal traits in your team means you ’ re not only ready to take opportunities as and when they arise but you can start to create new opportunities too , based on your team ’ s strengths .
“ But , just like sport you can have the best team spirit in the world , but if you ’ re not producing results , you aren ’ t going to be seen as successful . Front and centre of what we do at Shelforce is high quality products – life saving products when it comes to our fire doors – that are delivered in quantity , on time to very discerning customers . The fact we are now a supplier of choice for
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Birmingham City Council proves those credentials .”
After the football analogy , it seems fitting that there ’ s a trophy cabinet to talk about too . They ’ re on display for the team that won them – and while it ’ s not all about that , it ’ s a brilliant reward to the work they want to do . Many of these awards have been received for diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and Shelforce is well known and respected in the industry and beyond for just this .
“ We ’ re not the ‘ disabled ’ factory ,” said Howard . “ If we ’ re talking about resilience , however , show me someone more resilient than a deaf person who wasn ’ t able to communicate with their peers at school , or a young person who grew up thinking they ’ d never get a job because of a health condition , or someone who missed an opportunity because they didn ’ t get help with some paperwork . “ At Shelforce we recognise everyone ’ s individual talent and the attributes that make them great . Our business is great because of that . Shelforce is not a charity . It is a thriving business built on resilience . The individual resilience of every team member , and our collective strength based on honesty , openness , teamwork , support and respect .”
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SHELFORCE SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD Birmingham window and door manufacturer Shelforce has been shortlisted in the Diversity and Inclusion category at this year ’ s LGC Awards 2024 , on Wednesday 12 June 2024 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel .
“ We have continuously invested in the diversity of our staff
” The LGC Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the local government calendar and recognise and celebrate outstanding examples of innovation and excellence delivered by councils nationwide .
Shelforce , a service within Birmingham City Council , impressed the judges with its entry centred around the opportunities the company provides for individuals with a complex , diverse range of disabilities and challenges .
With 75 % of its team of 31 staff disabled , the value Shelforce delivers goes beyond a financial return and its commitment to inclusivity in the workplace saw Shelforce receive the King ’ s Award for Enterprise in Promoting
Opportunity ( through social mobility ) last year .
Howard Trotter , Shelforce Business Manager , said : “ We have continuously invested in the diversity of our staff and have initiatives in place to train vulnerable people with a physical or mental disability to provide a career that they can excel at , and our increasing success is very much down to them .”
www . shelforce . com
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