Fisher Scientific were recently announced as winners of the 2012 RNIB College Partnership for Employers Debut Award.

As part of the partnership, Fisher Scientific were joined by Duncan Rothery, an adult trainee who had previously worked as a lorry driver. Read the rest of this entry »

Fisher Scientific are winners of the 2012 RNIB College Partnership for Employers Debut Award. Jason Hill, the company’s transportation manager, talks to us about his first experience of taking on a work placement from the College and some of the challenges (and successes!) experienced by employees who are blind or visually impaired. Read the rest of this entry »

Duncan Rothery was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration which will eventually cause total blindness.  For Duncan, this meant he would no longer be able to work as a long distance lorry driver, an occupation in which he spent the last 25 years.  To some people, a permanent disability such as blindness would mean applying for disability benefit and giving up on work.  Duncan, however, was determined to stay in work despite his disability.

His local Job Centre put him in touch with the RNIB College in Loughborough who provide training to help blind and partially sighted adults acquire skills that will help them find employment and maintain their independence.  Duncan began studying on a 6 month course in July and rapidly built up IT skills that he has been able to put into practice during a job placement at Fisher Scientific in Loughborough. “The benefits that trainees can receive from work placements and industry expertise are invaluable. Employment can be difficult to obtain and this is often much harder for those with a disability,” said Christina Skipper, skills development trainer at RNIB College Loughborough. Read the rest of this entry »