Congratulations to the team at WOTSO Zetland, named Most Inclusive Employer and Outstanding Specialised Business at the Local Business Awards for City Suburbs in Sydney last month.
Clare Simmons, Head of People at WOTSO, said winning the awards highlights the huge role motivated staff play in a successful business and comes six years after WOTSO began its partnership with NOVA Employment, a non-profit disability employment service.
WOTSO now employs eight staff – including Jason Lahoud at Zetland, pictured second from left – recruited through NOVA and couldn’t be happier with the partnership, which started when WOTSO Regional Manager, Paula Dayeh, mentioned that her intellectually disabled sister was having issues finding a job.
At the same time, WOTSO was experiencing high turnover in entry level positions such as a ‘space runner’ who keep larger sites shipshape.
“It was unknown territory for us so we gave NOVA a call and we just found it was such an amazing business and operation that they run,” says Clare.
“They find you the candidate and stay with you for the journey. They help with training, mentoring, coaching.
“This has just been so successful for us. What NOVA do is very unique, staying with you for the whole journey really helps support the team member but also helps with those difficult conversations or if there’s ever an issue.”
Clare says employees sourced through NOVA have brought so much to WOTSO.
“Honestly, I can’t tell you how well these guys have slotted into our business. They’re so reliable, we’ve got such a great team, and our members really embrace them.
“It makes it such a nice environment – it’s such a beautiful relationship.”
If there’s one downside, it’s that NOVA only operates in NSW and WOTSO hasn’t yet found comparable services in other states.
“If they did, we’d be doing it across our whole network, that’s for sure.”
