Jason Harris – Maintenance Assistant

“I like working at the Box Factory and I've made friends at work.”

In 2006, Jason Harris of Leamington Spa set off on a personal journey to make a success of a new job. Two years later, Jason has his feet firmly on the ground at the Box Factory in Leamington Spa where he works as a Maintenance Site Assistant. Jason, who has learning difficulties, supports other workers in the factory who design and construct boxes out of corrugated board. His specific duties are to help to stack pallets and maintain the work areas and the factory sites. “I like it when it’s busy and I like working in different factories” says Jason.

Production manager Jamie Jennings is impressed with the progress Jason has made since he first joined the company.  He says: “Jason takes pride in his work and he shows initiative. When he first started at the factory, he needed a lot of guidance. Now, he can be left on his own to get on with his work.”

Employer's story

Jamie admits to having reservations about employing someone with learning difficulties. He’d never recruited anyone with a disability before. However, when he interviewed Jason, any doubts he had were gradually dispelled. “I could see that Jason had the abilities for the job and also that he had potential” says Jamie.
 
Initially, Jason needed the assistance of a support worker from Warwickshire County Council who gave him guidance during his interview. She also helped Jamie develop a structured work routine for Jason.  Jamie was determined not to treat Jason as a special case because of his disability and as a result Jason’s confidence has grown and he now works with relative independence.

This has been a positive development for Jason but also for Jamie who as a busy manager, can rely on Jason to get on with the job.

Employee's story

Jason was quite introverted when he first started working at the Box Factory. He found it hard to communicate with other staff and also faced the challenge of having to get used to a workplace environment.  However, he was determined to make a success of his job and as time has progressed both his verbal and non-verbal communication skills have improved significantly. “It was difficult to have a conversation with Jason when he first came to the Box Factory, but now he is much more comfortable talking to other people” says his manager Jamie.  

Confidence

Jason’s confidence has also improved and he now works with minimal supervision. Jamie says: “Jason just comes in and gets on with his work but he also looks for opportunities to help with additional tasks when he can.”

Jason enjoys the rewards of working such as having an income. He also enjoys the social aspects of having a job and has made friends of some of the people he works with. “I enjoy making friends at work” he says, “and I like to meet new people.”

Team player

Being able to work effectively with teams is a skill valued by all employers and Jason is a good team player. He likes to be kept busy and shows initiative by looking for ways to support his co-workers.

Jason has come a long way since he first started work but it has certainly been worth it. His commitment and dedication are highly valued and prove what can be achieved when employers recognise potential.

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