The Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate joined representatives from local businesses and community groups for an event celebrating the recent growth and success of Harrogate charity and social enterprise Paperworks.
Paperworks has been providing training for adults with learning difficulties and health related barriers to work for 19 years in Harrogate. Due to growth in recent years Paperworks now opened a second office in Leeds and created 4 new paid jobs in Harrogate for ex-trainees.
The workshops operate tailored work preparation programmes for trainees as well as providing professional support services to businesses of all sizes in North and West Yorkshire, including postal services, mail order fulfilment, direct marketing, design, print and print finishing.
The enterprise is more than providing training, for many local companies paper works is an integral part of their business.
Swag-Bag, based in Harrogate, produce a range of costume jewellery storage bags and operate an online store. Paperworks is an integral part of their work flow. Paperworks take the orders from the Swag-Bag website, package the orders up and dispatch.
Gay Stott of Swag-Bag said:
I heard about paperworks through a friend and they now do everything, taking orders off our website.
I just know that it’s happening and they do the most superb job.
Having paperworks working with us means that we can get on with other areas of our business, such as new product design.
Paperworks work with Swag Bag is a departure from their traditional paper-based work to back-office order fulfilment.
Frank Beckett the chair of trustees, thanked all those that had supported paperworks making mention of both sponsors and customers.
The lunch event included presentations by Paperworks trainees explaining the work they carry out at the workshop and giving their perspective on Paperworks.
To find out more about business services offered by Paperworks or to enquire about training and volunteering contact manager Damien Handslip on 01423 816 999 or email d.handslip@paperworks.org.uk
