RSBi Receives Prestigious Honour During Shadow Minister For Disabled People Visit

--- One of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities, based in Glasgow, receives award for providing jobs to disabled school pupils and war veterans ---

Margaret Curran MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People, today (22 September) paid tribute to workers at Glasgow’s Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) during a visit.

The shadow minister was joined by Joe Mann, MBE, deputy general secretary of Community Union.

He handed over a prestigious award from the trade union in honour of the outstanding training and employment opportunities RSBi provides to disabled school pupils and war veterans.

The award bore the inscription: “Presented to RSBi in recognition of providing employment and training opportunities for disabled school pupils and HM Armed Forces Veterans.”

During their visit Margaret Curran and Joe Mann were shown the full range of employment and development opportunities for disabled workers at this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility which produces high quality furniture, timber kits and bespoke office solutions.

RSBi is one of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities, employing 240 workers, more than half of whom have a disability. It is operated by City Building, Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction company.

Margaret Curran MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People, said: “I was delighted to be able to visit RSBi. RSBi is a shining example of supported employment providing jobs for disabled people and it was fantastic to be able to recognise the achievement of the highly skilled workers in Glasgow today.”

“With over 1 in 10 disabled people out of work in this country, the Tory-led Government should look at the success of employment facilities like RSBi and ensure that disabled people are given the opportunity of work and the support that they need in order to enter full time, sustainable employment.”

Community Union deputy general secretary Joe Mann MBE, said: “Community Union is proud of its relationship with RSBi. The business is clearly a beacon for supported employment. This business and these initiatives demonstrate the shared commitment and values held by the management and the workforce.”

“Visiting RSBi today only further enthuses my drive to press Governments in Holyrood and Westminster to create the right environment for sustainable supported employment as a vital part of providing equality of opportunity to work”

Dr Graham Paterson is operations director at City Building, which operates RSBi. He said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this award. We have a unique social ethos at RSBi and are proud of the fact we provide training for school pupils with a disability and jobs to veterans from our armed forces.

“RSBi’s continuing success is due to the hard work and skill of our employees. The unique mix of training and support we offer our employees will ensure our place as one of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities here in Glasgow.”

RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for over 200 years. The business has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing marketplace and manufactures products for public, private and third sectors. It also works in tandem with such organisations as Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, employing a number of disabled ex-servicemen.