Genera were the winners of the 2017 ACC Employer Award at the national awards ceremony held in Auckland.
Genera was also
Gavin Smales, Genera’s operations manager for the Napier Port Branch, said the award was great to receive, hiring good staff that
Genera employs five people with disabilities and works with Workbridge Hawke’s Bay to look for great candidates. Smales said he recommended the approach to other businesses.
“We don’t change anything – we can’t afford to. But we can put people where we can use their strengths,”
Lynne Gibson, team leader of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast branch of Workbridge, who nominated the company, said they couldn’t be happier.
“Gavin Smales is an excellent employer who takes people on their ability rather than their disability.”
Dan Buckingham, chairman of the Attitude Trust, said the Awards were about celebrating outstanding New Zealand achievements, as well as shining a spotlight on disability.
“We celebrated success and achievement across areas such as art, sport and the big one for us; employment and entrepreneurship. There were some spectacular moments on stage, with some very humble Kiwis getting the recognition they deserve.”