Great success of new traineeship induction programme
A week-long induction programme for trainees with disabilities took place in June. This new initiative was devised by Joyce Farrell, Manager Equality and Diversity and was launched by Luke Shinnors, Executive Director HR. The 13 participating trainees came from diverse locations and had varying skills, experiences and disabilities.
The ESB traineeship scheme for people with disabilities, now in its third year, is a personal initiative of the Chief Executive, Padraig McManus. It has been a very positive experience for the participants and its success is largely due to the ongoing positive support of staff at all levels across ESB. It has also drawn high praise for ESB from various external organisations. The focus of the new induction programme was to give trainees a good overview and understanding of ESB and its business units and to make their six-month traineeship more rewarding. It included presentations from each ESB Business Unit and involved a number of external visits. At Croke Park, Deirdre Newell, ESBI explained how the new 'Cúl Green' project will benefit both ESB and the GAA. Majella Henchion, Station Manager, Turlough Hill, gave the group a very informative tour around that unique environment. Ted O'Connell and Sean Nevin guided the trainees around the Networks Training Centre in Portlaoise, with a tour that included a display of line maintenance work. Pauline Holland arranged a very pleasant tour of Number 29.
The programme also included speakers from the Jubilee Sailing Trust which operates the only two tall ships in the world that sail with mixed-ability crews. Fred Arntz told of how he learned to steer one of these magnificent vessels from a crew member who was blind. It is hoped that either the Lord Nelson or the Tenacious will sail into Dun Laoghaire in July. Some of the trainees expressed interest in joining these ships on future voyages around the North Sea, the Canaries and the Caribbean. The final day of the programme involved Disability Awareness Training for the local supervisors and disability champions who will help each trainee during his or her placement. This was provided by AHEAD and Spinal Injuries Ireland.
The induction programme wouldn't have been such a success without a great deal of hard work and support from many people in ESB. These include: Aidan O'Regan, Deputy Chief Executive; Tony Merriman, Worker Director; Luke Shinnors, Executive Director HR; Joyce Farrell, Manager Equality and Diversity and her team; Maria Greene, Mick O'Connor, Linda Ryan, Deirdre Newell, Sandra Ryan, Irene Byrne, Anne O'Neill, Pauline Holland and the staff of House 29, Majella Henchion, Dave Hughes, Ted O'Connell, Sean Nevin, Eddie Nally, Niamh O'Neill, Joe Kealy, Lorna Brady of SPORTSCO and Fred Arntz and Kiara Lynch of JST.
Special thanks go to the staff of City Cabs, who facilitated the trainees' trips with a level of professionalism and good humour that put everybody at ease and added greatly to the success of the programme.
