Coffee shop proves true Innovation
THE AROMA of freshly brewed coffee is filling UK Steel Enterprise’s (UKSE) Innovation Centres after the Corus-subsidiary agreed to back a charity that helps people with disabilities into work.
UKSE supports new and growing businesses in steel areas and was happy to provide free space in its centres at Redcar and Hartlepool for the successful Aroma coffee house outlets run by The North East Centre for Independent Living (NECIL). With more than 80 businesses operating out of the centres, Aroma has proved a big hit.
NECIL was set up eight years ago by people with disabilities as a not-for-profit organisation which uses its trading arms to support community projects. It aims to raise £1m a year to fund its operations.
So successful have the charity’s five original outlets been in Norton, Middlesbrough and Redcar Library, that the organisation is looking to franchise the model throughout the UK.
NECIL’s chief executive Diane Roberts, said: “It not only provides business training but also involves integration with the community and raises awareness about people with disabilities and exactly what they can achieve.”
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