BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions joins forces with Pluss to promote inclusive workplaces

Under its Corporate and Social Responsibility programme, BNP Paribas is keen to make a greater impact on local community-based initiatives and charitable causes. In Bristol, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve joined forces with Pluss, an award-winning social enterprise.  

Pluss believes that people with disabilities have the potential to become brilliant employees. Given the right opportunities and the right specialist assistance, they can be an asset to any company. The social enterprise offers aid to thousands of individuals with mental and physical disabilities every year, as well as those with learning disabilities and long-term health difficulties.

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions will play an active role in supporting Pluss’ efforts to get disabled people into work. The intention is for this to be a long and productive partnership that advances the interests of this valuable, worthy, and underserved demographic.

Jean-Michel Boyer, UK CEO of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, said: “Being able to choose our own charity partners has been enormously rewarding for us. Choosing Pluss wasn’t difficult, and it’s a huge honour to be helping these worthy individuals get into work – some for the very first time.” 

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions will collaborate with Pluss and other businesses on a variety of fundraising and awareness-boosting initiatives, including the upcoming ‘Untapped Talent’ event this summer. The event will feature guest speakers, seminars, and other sessions designed to help people build the skills they need to succeed.

Tapping the untapped: the day of the event

Untapped Talent promises to be packed with engaging speakers and replete with opportunities for disabled individuals to learn new competencies, bolster their CVs, and improve their chances of securing gainful employment.

First is up is George Price, a former Pluss customer whose inspiring story traces the challenges he faced in school – and his journey to rewarding full-time employment at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions. This opening session will cover the difficulties George faced, and how (with a little help from Pluss) he eventually overcame them.

Following on from this will be the morning session, where disabled attendees will receive a tutorial in using Universal Job Match and optimising their profile for prospective employers. An interactive workshop on general wellbeing will complement this session and will feature simple tips for managing anxiety and stress in the office.

Untapped Talent will also host a ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ bar where attendees can create a short CV video for the Universal Job Match tool. With help from Bristol City College and Reflexions academy, visitors will be made to look their best for the camera. At the end, they’ll be presented with a USB stick containing the final clip.

Throughout the venue, there will be iPads available featuring the latest apps for difficulties with learning, wellbeing, confidence, and other issues, for the benefit of all attendees. Rachel Appleton, HR Director of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, will conclude the event with a speech reflecting on George’s journey, his considerable positive impact on his colleagues and co-workers, and how local businesses can become disability confidence employers.

“Untapped Talent promises to be a major event on the Bristol business and recruitment calendar”, Appleton said. “As George proves, disabled people represent a significant, but undervalued segment of the UK workforce. I’m proud to participate in an event that highlights the contribution they currently make – and the contribution they could make if employers were a little more open-minded and open-hearted.”