Join Cork Chamber and SECAD for a practical, honest lunchtime event on inclusive hiring in Cork.
Cork has no shortage of talent, but not everyone gets an equal shot at showing it. WorkAbility Cork, a partnership between Cork Chamber and SECAD, is designed to enhance employment outcomes for people with disabilities and those whose lives have been affected by a mental health setback, connecting them with Cork employers ready to open the door.
Inclusion in the workplace isn't always straightforward, and this event won't pretend otherwise. Hear from Cork employers who have engaged with WorkAbility Cork, the setbacks, the successes and the innovations. This is a business decision, not a trend, and this event will show you what it actually looks like.
Keynote Speaker:
Aidan Mc Loughlin, Senior Director, Indeed, will speak about the role of recruitment in inclusive hiring and the statistics for being an inclusive employer. Aidan has spent over 13 years working at the intersection of work, data and human meaning. He leads Indeed's Content Center of Excellence, a team dedicated to producing research-led insight on the future of hiring, skills, and the workforce.
On the Panel:
Moderated by Naoimh Frawley, Cork Chamber, our panel brings together three Cork employers with three very different experiences of WorkAbility Cork.
Eanna O'Brien, Talbot Hotel Midleton | "Here's what it looks like when it works". An employer speaks about the person they took on through WorkAbility Cork, the support put in place, and what it has meant for their business.
Emma Walker, SE Systems | "It doesn't always work out and that's okay". A business perspective on when a placement doesn't work out, not through any fault of the employer, but because of the realities of mental health and disability. An honest look at what it takes to keep engaging with the programme afterwards.
Barbara-Anne Richardson, Heineken Ireland | "Removing barriers at scale". A company rolling out an assistive technology initiative nationally, showing how inclusion moves beyond placements into practical, everyday infrastructure.
Who should attend:
• Business owners and managers considering an inclusive hire
• HR and People teams exploring practical supports and reasonable accommodations
• Employers already engaged with WorkAbility Cork or curious about getting involved
• Anyone interested in the future of inclusive employment in Cork
We look forward to welcoming you for what promises to be an inspiring and insightful event.
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