Staff employed by leading disability charity Enham Trust will be featured tomorrow in a Christmas-themed report on the BBC’s regional news programme South Today.
The item is scheduled for broadcast from 6.30pm on BBC1, Friday 19th December.
BBC reporter Frankie Peck visited the team at Enham Packaging & Storage (EPAS) in November. She spent a morning interviewing staff on the warehouse production lines, and witnessed first hand just how busy things can get on the shopfloor at this time of year.
EPAS handles more than 800,000 products on average in the run up to the festive season each year, from cosmetics and food presentation boxes to limited-edition toy collections and festive tins.
EPAS is a social enterprise operated by Enham Trust, a charity supporting disabled people to live lives of choice, independence and control. It employs a mixed-ability community of 33 staff, 26 of whom have a range of physical and learning disabilities . EPAS profits help fund the broader work of its parent charity and boasts an impressive client list including Twinings tea and luxury brand Fortnum & Mason (F&M). EPAS has achieved BRC accreditation in recognition of its quality assured work with prepacked foods such as biscuits, confectionery and drink brands Ovaltine and Options, for onward supply to several major grocers.
Frankie completed follow-up filming of Twinings brands in a leading supermarket, to show the journey from EPAS production line to retail shelf.
“The staff are so positive and it’s very obvious how much they all enjoy working here. It’s great to visit a charity which has so many good news stories to tell,” she said.
Oli Huppertz, Head of Enham Industries, added, “We want to make sure staff have the opportunity to gain new skills and confidence whilst performing to high standards. I’m really proud of what the team here has worked hard to achieve.”
EPAS is a perfect example of Enham Trust’s strapline – ‘the power of yes’ – in action; saying yes to opportunities, pushing boundaries and challenging the limits of what is possible.
Tune in to South Today at 6.30pm tomorrow on BBC1 to see the full programme.
