PRESS RELEASE
18 February 2013
FST’s SMaRT Team Receive Standing Ovation at International Summit on
Employment and Disability
First Step Trust (FST) received a fantastic response when it presented its innovatory
business model - Socially Minded and Responsible Trading™ (SMaRT) as one of 20
innovative practices and 10 progressive employment practices selected to be
showcased at the Zero Project Conference on 18 and 19 February in Vienna. 250
leading parliament members, NGO and Essl foundation representatives, scientists,
and activists in the disabled rights movement, attended the international summit on
employment and disability to share best practice and explore how these radical new
approaches could be implemented in other countries.
Ronnie Wilson MBE, FST’s CEO said: “I am delighted that the Zero Project and its
sponsors, gave FST the opportunity to share our SMaRT model and explain how it
can deliver personalised, sustainable work experience, which is both challenging and
relevant to today’s jobs market, to some of the most disadvantaged members of our
community. I believe everyone has a right to work regardless of their disadvantage or
disability.”
Ronnie added: “I'm very proud of today’s presentation, we came and delivered. I was
really pleased to be joined on stage by representatives of our SMaRT team, including
one of our trainees who, despite facing severe disadvantages, has used the SMaRT
experience to turn her life around and set herself on course for success.”
Co-presenter SMaRT trainee mechanic Tegan said: “The presentation was fantastic. I
gave it 100 percent and the response was more than I could have hoped.”
Sasha Bennett, SMaRT Employment Development Worker, also on stage, said: “FST
received standing ovations. We got our message across and made a major
impression.”
In total, FST works with over 250 people in its SMaRT enterprises, giving them the
opportunity to return to work, and through that, gain control over their lives.
More information: www.firststeptrust.org.uk
Zero Conference: international platform for exchange and networking
The Zero Project is an internationally established platform for barrier-free access through which
organisations, persons with disabilities, experts, scientists, and policymakers can engage in networking
and exchange. The Zero Project Conference is held at the initiative of the Essl Foundation, World
Future Council and Bank Austria. Following its successful launch in January 2012, when over 250
leading parliament members, NGO and foundation representatives, scientists, and activists in the
disabled rights movement gathered, the focus this year is on the subject of employment and disabilities.
The foundation for this is the current edition of the Zero Project Report, which was completed and
published in December 2012 - available at www.zeroproject.org.
First Step Trust. Company no. 373 0562. Registered in England and Wales. Charity reg. 1077 959.
Registered office: 9 Kingside Business Park, Ruston Road, Woolwich, London SE18 5BX. VAT reg. 6500 196 68.
Tel/fax: 020 8855 7386. Website: www.firststeptrust.org.uk. Email: [email protected].