When I was 18, I fell off a horse and broke my back in two places, which left me paralysed and a full-time wheelchair user. At that point,
I didn’t think I could live a normal life like everybody else. I didn’t think I
would ever have a proper job, a proper career and live life to the full. It
definitely took me a couple of years to get my head around and adjust to my new
life.
When looking for another job, I was finding it difficult to
find employment, because as a wheelchair user, I need accessibility such as
lifts and accessible toilets, and I found that people didn’t really see my
ability to work, just my disability. In my old job, I was the only disabled
person there. As much as the team were lovely and very helpful, I still felt a
bit alienated.
I came for an interview at Nuneaton Signs in 2001, was offered the job on the spot, and have been with the company ever since! Nuneaton Signs is wonderful; they don’t see your disability, they focus on your ability to work. Working with others who also have a disability has helped me to feel less alienated and more included. I know for myself, it can be a challenge to just get out of bed in the morning and get dressed to come to work, and it can be hard work. However, you don’t see that struggle in those who work here. Nuneaton Signs has really helped us to focus on what we can do, not what limits us. The workplace attitude has really encouraged us all to take life on and develop a can-do attitude. It’s amazing to see, and it makes me feel proud to be working alongside these amazing people.
I get a lot of support from my employers and colleagues here. So much so that I no longer class them as work colleagues, but dear friends, and for some, even family members. Nuneaton Signs has really become my second home; it’s not just a company but a family.
Everyone here supports one another, and I understand that asking for help can be difficult. However, when help is offered kindly, it’s much easier to accept. For example, the icy weather can be difficult for me as a wheelchair user, and my team knows this. To support my independence, they will hold the back of my chair to keep it steady while I transfer from my car to the chair. It’s these small moments that have brought us all closer and truly help us appreciate one another.
I started here as a Junior Admin Assistant, doing tasks like filing, typing letters, answering phones, and helping the sales team. After a few months, I took on more responsibilities and enjoyed marketing tasks like quotes, mail shots, and building customer relationships. It was agreed I would become the sales and marketing manager’s assistant. We both went on a marketing course, in which I got higher scores in the final exam than the marketing manager (which I didn’t rub it in his face much), that boosted my confidence.
I was asked to do a mail shot on Crime Reduction officers nationwide, which helped me build a customer database and established relationships with police, local authorities, and crime related organisations. I then became the Crime Reduction sales account holder, doing road shows and exhibitions across the country until government budget cuts reduced the market for crime reduction. I continued in commercial signs, managing additional accounts and learning to use CorelDRAW for standard drawings.
In 2012, I joined the Traffic Signs Sales Team, enjoying the new challenge of learning new things each day. Now, which is one of my proudest moments in life, I am the Traffic Signs Sales Manager. With a lot of hard work and a lot of support from Nuneaton Signs, my colleagues and my boss, I’ve finally got the dream job!
Since becoming the Traffic Signs Sales Manager, Nuneaton Signs has enrolled me on a Level 3 Team Leader course, which has boosted my confidence in myself and in my management abilities. This has significantly benefited both myself and my job, as it provides me with the assurance that I am on the right track to perform my duties properly.
Over the last five years, we have teamed up with North Warwickshire South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) to provide Supported Internships. I’ve really enjoyed having the interns here, and have found working with them to be so heartwarming! You could be having a bad day, but just speaking to them and seeing how far they have progressed since they first started here really brightens my day.
I believe that other employers should consider hiring more people with disabilities to give them a real chance in life. When they are given that opportunity, they really do put their heart and soul into the job. On a personal level, I tend to work harder because I don’t want to let others down. I believe everyone deserves a fair chance in life, and people tend to work harder when they are given one.
Buying signs from Nuneaton Signs is not just about purchasing a sign to stick on a lamp post. It’s about supporting a company that gives people a reason to get up in the morning, to keep going, and to feel pride—knowing that even a small sign can be the biggest achievement or proudest moment of someone’s life. It’s about bringing a bit of spark back into people’s lives.
