Creative approach to employment issues

Tulla-based garden centre Colourful Creations has found a creative way of tackling its increasing workload without incurring the financial risk associated with taking on a full-time employee.

Co-owners Siobhán Gallagher and Ray Egan utilised Clare Supported Employment Service’s Wage Subsidy Scheme to not only fund a part-time employee’s wages but to source a very valued new recruit, East Clare’s Róisín Lynch, herself a keen gardener.
CSES’s wage subsidy scheme offers a financial subsidy to companies to encourage them to employ people with disabilities and Colourful Creations approached the Clare centre and found the perfect candidate for a position at their garden centre.
“We were reluctant to take on a new employee in these tough economic times, despite having lots of work to do. The opportunity to take Róisín on a work trial before committing to employment was key in our journey towards employing her. Clare Supported Employment Service guided us through the process and we are delighted it has worked out so well,” Siobhán explained.
East Clare’s Róisín Lynch had registered with Clare Supported Employment, which supports people with an illness, injury or disability to secure and maintain employment while providing effective solutions to employers’ staffing needs.
Róisín had quite a long history of working in a variety of jobs and had a keen interest in gardening, having completed several work experience placements in gardening in the past.
Ray and Siobhán, who initially took Roisín on a work trial basis, quickly found her to be an excellent match in terms of their needs.
“Róisín is so enthusiastic in her work and is really an asset to us as we fight through these tough times,” Siobhán outlined.
Róisín is equally positive about her job and the help she received from Clare Supported Employment. “I think CSES is excellent. They helped me get a very good job in the garden centre in Tulla and I am really enjoying it there.”
The wage subsidy scheme, which in some cases can cover 50% of the weekly wage, offers an excellent incentive to employers to employ individuals who have a disability.
Alice O’Carroll, team leader with Clare Supported Employment, is encouraging more companies to avail of the service.
“A number of local businesses have found that employing people through this scheme has provided them with a winning combination of the right candidate together with a significant cost saving.”
Anyone wishing to find out more about the wage subsidy scheme can contact Alice or Karen on 065 6844007 or email info@claresupportedemployment.ie