A Portuguese corporate group that operates in food distribution and specialized retail, Jerónimo Martins, has reportedly inaugurated a new training centre intended to assist those with disabilities, for increasing their employability.

The new Incluir Centre is situated at Telheiras, Lisbon, and the first groups are planned to begin training at the centre in January.

As per the retailer, the centre will follow a pioneer training and development methodology, tailor-made to each trainee and adapted to functions available within each group’s business areas.

The training will be carried out in two stages – the first phase of training will be done for two weeks and conducted in a classroom. Meanwhile, the second training phase will be the on-the-job training conducted for 10 weeks.

Tutors across both these stages will supervise participants, and employees will be charged with training each trainee and monitoring in the workplace and the inclusion team. After completing these two phases, trainees would be employed by the group companies.

Marta Maia, Chief People Officer at Jerónimo Martins Group, said that the firm has developed this centre as an opportunity for training and afterwards, offering employment to the sector that suffers from many issues in the job market.

Jerónimo Martins, the group, has built multiple job opportunities for around 550 people with disabilities since 2015 through its Include Programme. The group is optimistic that this new capacity will assist in bolstering greater inclusion of disabled in the society.

The centre will be open to the whole community, and people will be welcomed to visit it. Several debates and conferences will also be held at the centre to create awareness regarding the urgent need to be more inclusive.

Furthermore, Jerónimo Martins recorded a 48% surge in sales in the third quarter of its financial year.

Source Credit - https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/jeronimo-martins-unveils-training-and-development-centre-for-people-with-disabilities-155697