We have advised the charity, Ways Into Work, on its supported employment café project – Barista & Beyond.
Who?
Based in Berkshire, Ways Into Work is a charity committed to supporting employment services in the South East of England, supporting businesses with their recruitment retention and diversity needs and enabling people with a barrier or disadvantage to gain and maintain employment.
The charity's motto is 'changing lives, one job at a time' with its five missions:
- Supported employment - supporting people retain paid employment
- Supported internships - helping young people gain employable skills
- Recruiting talent - helping employers find the right people
- Workplace support – providing experience and qualified employment coaches for job seekers and employers
- Training and consultancy – helping employers to support their staff .
What?
In partnership with New Directions College (Reading Borough Council's Adult and Community Learning service), Ways Into Work launched a new supported employment café project in 2022 at Chatham Place, Reading. The café, Barista & Beyond, would offer learners work experience and supported employment opportunities.
The mission for the café was to inspire other employers in the hospitality industry to provide supported employment opportunities, with the aim to create a more diverse workforce that better represents communities in which we live.
Paul Lawrence (Head of Real Estate) and Janay Goodman (Senior Paralegal) advised the charity on a pro bono basis from initial instruction on their café project lease in 2022, reviewing the lease documents, as well as advising on the recent assignment of the café lease, and ensuring the charity was legally protected in all transactions.
Maurice George, CEO of Ways Into Work, said "We cannot praise Taylor Wessing highly enough. They are highly professional and diligent in all that they do. They have a great team of experts to call upon."
After opening in 2022, Barista & Beyond provided 30 work placements for students with disabilities studying hospitality. It also became a hub for special schools and colleges to use as a social venue.
Our advice has allowed the charity to continue their vital work making a great social impact within the Reading community. It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Ways Into Work and we look forward to a continuing relationship.
