Mystery shoppers hail disabled work scheme
ONE of Rochdale’s largest local businesses has praised a work experience scheme for disabled students after glowing mystery shopper reviews.
Gordon Rigg garden centre on Kingsway provides work experience for students with physical or learning difficulties from Hopwood Hall College.
And a recent ‘mystery shopper’ exercise commended three students, who are completing a skills for life course at the college, for their work.
Student Jack Woodall, 17, was singled out for his communication skills and customer service.
Store manager John Jackson said: “Gordon Rigg are proud of our long standing relationship with Hopwood Hall College and the work placement scheme.
“The performance of all the students during our mystery shopper visits was excellent.
“Jack in particular has become a very valuable member of the team, he earned a very high score during the mystery shop and has since been offered paid employment with us.
“The scheme has proved to be a very valuable partnership between the two institutions.”
Mandy Fletcher, lecturer on the Skills for Life course, said: “The opportunities they have provided to our students are invaluable, there is a severe lack of opportunities for them in employment terms.
“I’m really happy the students have proved how valuable they can be to an employer, showing that having a disability certainly isn’t a barrier to providing excellent customer service in a professional setting.”