Our Partnership with Nando’s

At Aldingbourne Trust, we're proud of the impact our WorkAid service is having. By helping adults with learning disabilities and autism find paid employment, we're changing lives. One of our latest partnerships, with Nando's, has led to 14 individuals securing jobs across five of its locations in Sussex. This brings the total number of people we've supported into work to over 1,600.

We first teamed up with Nando's when its Bognor Regis restaurant opened last year. Dan Massey, General Manager at Nando's Bognor Regis – Arun Retail Park, shared, "We're always looking at ways to attract and develop the best talent in our restaurants. The Nandocas [team members] we have welcomed via the Aldingbourne Trust have been fantastic additions to our team. They bring enthusiasm, dedication, and energy, and that's exactly what we need to continue delivering the great food and service we're known for."

At WorkAid, we take the time to understand what employers need and match them with individuals whose skills and interests align. We support businesses through the entire hiring process—from interviews and onboarding to workplace adjustments—so that both employers and employees feel supported every step of the way.

For those joining Nando's, the experience has been life-changing. Ieva, one of the new recruits, shared, "I have so much more confidence and am able to interact with people in a way I never thought I could," she said. "Since my discovery day, I have felt like I am truly understood and accepted as a woman with autism. I love the financial independence that this job brings, and meeting new people every day is a huge bonus."

Katie Williams, our Community Partnership Lead, hopes this success will inspire other businesses to get involved, "If Nando's can do it, places like Tesco and Sainsbury's can do it. We have people working in huge businesses, but we haven't found that major link in terms of supported employment yet. My job is to develop these leads, and I hope relationships can flourish just like Nando's."

This partnership is proof that inclusive employment benefits everyone: businesses gain committed employees, individuals achieve greater independence, and communities become more inclusive.

To learn more about WorkAid and how your business can get involved, visit: www.aldingbournetrust.org 

​Written by Lizzie Senn. ​For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]