JCS Investments Ltd, in collaboration
with Heritors Labs, has introduced an innovative digital platform for the
promotion of the economic independence of people with some form of disability
or special needs.
The project which is the
brain-child of JCS Investments Limited identified the potential to increase the
economic involvement of those less able to participate in the mainstream
economy. The digital platform is designed
to provide a comprehensive range of options for people with disabilities which
include, a marketplace for produce made by persons with disability, enabling
them to showcase their products and access a wider audience.
The platform also offers a
way for socially responsible customers to achieve a positive impact by purchasing
items from individuals (and also supporting the institutions working in this
area). As well as a database of disabled people’s skills and competencies,
making it easier for employers, from SMEs to large organizations, to recruit individuals
with a disability. The employment options can include short or long-term
contracts.
The rest include opportunities
for people with disability to create their personal profiles, update details
and present their skill-set to potential employers and a ‘shop window’ for
larger organization to register as partners, promote their involvement and
demonstrate commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
The collaboration with Heritors
Labs has provided the foundation for the development of this laudable project.
The dedicated teams within the two organizations have worked together to create
the innovative digital platform.
JCS has approached a number
of potential partners, encouraging them to support this initiative and widen
awareness an reminded that EDI helps to unlock talent and stimulate economic
activity. This EDI initiative helps people with disability to achieve ‘income
with dignity’ and become equal members of the larger society. Looking ahead, it
should no longer be necessary for people to beg in the street for their daily
bread.
This platform represents an
important step in promoting economic independence. It is anticipated that some will
be able to scale up their business activities and engage more directly with the
mainstream economy.
This digital platform has
also partnered with Pario Surveys to offer personality profiling to people who
would like to increase their self-awareness and effectiveness in the workplace.
JCS has secured preferential rates for those interested in this service. The
platform also encourages the involvement of responsible corporate organizations
in the process of building an inclusive workforce. The platform enables them to
register and become part of the EDI community.
In a rapidly changing world,
organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the need to achieve competitive
advantage, which can be helped by promoting inclusion. This has a positive
effect on productivity, helping create the conditions for high performance. As
Unilever CEO (Alan Jope) stated in 2021, ‘Without healthy societies we don’t have a healthy business.’
In a related development,
JCS Investments Ltd has taken another step to help organisations enhance their
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials. The aim is to
encourage commercial and social improvements that support a sustainable future.
JCS has a positive track
record of promoting inclusion, particularly of people with disabilities. Patricia Safo, CEO of JCS is clear about the
benefits of the new project. She emphasised that JCS and the Heritors Labs team
see the project as an important way of connecting mainstream businesses with disabled,
motivated people.
Looking forward, the new
platform can be developed to showcase positive initiatives. There is also scope
for corporate organization to use the platform to purchase corporate Gifts and support
the development of micro-businesses. It is hoped that the platform can
encourage corporates to consider bespoke orders.
This initiative was inspired by Patricia’s late
father, Mr D O Safo, who took steps to employ people with disabilities in his
agribusiness workforce. The digital platform SENHUB utilises new technology to address
the significant issue of disadvantages and barriers to market access. It offers a
comprehensive marketplace for entrepreneurs with disabilities, to showcase
their goods and services. SENHUB also offers a job placement platform for disadvantaged
individuals.