It's more than just a job - it's a fair chance at a fulfilling career

Trainee Nick McKerrow

It’s approaching midday in the Westminster Council building, and the office workers are beginning to file into the cafe for lunch.

But this is not any old office cafe – this one is run by Unity Works, a charity helping people with learning disabilities gain real on-the-job experience and practical skills through apprenticeships and trainee programmes. Across all their cafe enterprises in London, 50% of their employees are always people with learning disabilities. It is Unity Works’ desire to lead by example and show that it is indeed possible to run a profitable business while also employing people with learning disabilities – because make no mistake, the numbers need to add up for Unity Works too. The Gérard Basset Foundation has supported their hospitality initiatives since 2024, and today we are paying them a visit to see first-hand the impact they are having on their beneficiaries.

As Employment Services Manager Helen Smith shows us around and makes introductions, we are struck by the palpable excitement behind the counter – and no wonder. Helen informs us that Pre-Covid, a mere 7% of people with learning disabilities who wanted to work were actually in employment, and that number has now decreased to a frightening 4.6%. This is not solely down to anxiety around employing people with learning disabilities – although that certainly is a big part of it – but also the fact that people with learning disabilities frequently hold entry-level positions, which are often the first to be cut when budgets are tight. Not surprising then that we are greeted with nothing but smiles and laughter, and a rock-solid esprit de corps.

Pre-Covid, a mere 7% of people with learning disabilities who wanted to work were actually in employment, and that number has now decreased to a frightening 4.6%.

Catering Assistant Don Ezekiel Onayomake holds this team spirit very dear. He explains how they have been encouraged to say, “One moment please” if things get hectic during the lunch rush and reassures us that nobody is ever left on their own behind the counter to face a long queue of hungry customers, especially not a trainee. His colleague Pascal Downie Dear, Hospitality Assistant, nods enthusiastically and adds, “We’re all there for each other”. Don and Pascal have both come out of the Unity Works apprenticeship programme and are now employed as staff in their Victoria cafe, helping to train the current cohort of trainees. They explain that they have learnt a great deal about effective communication through mentoring others, including how to keep instructions “short and sweet”, pay attention to body language, and sometimes even use a bit of sign language.

Operations Manager Lynn Parker is emphatic that employing someone with a learning disability is a great advantage to a business. “You’ll never get someone with a learning disability be late or not want to do the work,” she says. “You’ll get someone who is so excited and happy to be there.” This becomes very clear at the end of our visit when we are kindly treated to lunch. As we are eating, trainee Nick McKerrow floats elegantly over to our table, hands clasped behind his back, and asks with impeccable politeness if everything is in order. This may be an office cafe, but Nick takes as much pride in it as if it were his very own Michelin star restaurant. Nick has been a trainee with Unity Works for a few years and is currently focusing on developing his customer service and barista skills. Since training with Unity Works, he has successfully gained his National Vocational Qualification Level 2 and dreams of one day becoming “a proper employee”.

This may be an office cafe, but Nick takes as much pride in it as if it were his very own Michelin star restaurant.

It is this spark that keeps the customers coming back to the Unity Works cafe. “Our customers are our greatest allies,” Lynn says, explaining that they know they may have to wait a little longer for their coffee, but they still choose to come here over the many other cafes in the area because of the social values of the enterprise. It is also evident that the staff-client relationships are very strong. Trainee Cameron Phillips tells us that engaging with the customers is what he enjoys most about his work. He started training last year and tells us how exciting it has been to make friends through the process and learn hospitality skills. “I want to stay in this cafe!”, he exclaims joyfully.

It is with great admiration for the work and passion of our grantee that we leave Unity Works after our visit. There aren’t many other cafes out there where the staff are so incredibly excited to serve you lunch or make you a cappuccino, and take such wonderful pride in their work. It is fantastic to see, and we are humbled by the kindness and patience shown by the leadership team towards the staff and trainees to ensure that everyone is given a fair chance to learn and build a career for themselves.

The Gérard Basset Foundation is delighted to be financially supporting Unity Works for a second year, and we can’t wait to see the impact they will have on the people they work with.