Diageo is a drinkscompany employing over 30,000 people globally and selling their brands in nearly 180 countries. It employs more than 230 people across its three sites in Northern Ireland. These include a beer packaging plant in east Belfast, its corporate headquarters in Belfast city centre which hosts its GB and Ireland customer service and credit teams, and the Baileys global supply facility at Mallusk which produces and exports Baileys to over 150 markets worldwide.

DIAGEO reached out to NOW Group as they had heard about the work that we do with individuals with autism, learning difficulties and learning disabilities. Since then, they have worked closely with us to offer 5 job roles for our participants through different areas of DIAGEO such as packaging, bottling lines and within their administration department. DIAGEO is a JAM Card Friendly organisation and regularly fund raise on behalf of NOW Group. We have been invited with DIAGEO as our Strategic Partner to attend an event with the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment in Stormont to discuss Autism in the Workplace and showcase the impact of the partnership in providing support. We are confident that the establishment of such a valuable partnership will enable us to secure more employment opportunities in the future. Shirley Wilson, Small Pack Performance Manager has been our main contact and represents NOW Group’s values in all she has done for our participants. Shirley comments:Throughout our time in working with the NOW group we have benefited greatly from support on site both in regards to the intern programme with check ins with interns and also with us to ensure everyone has the support that they need, and also with on-site training delivered to our teams to develop deeper understanding and awareness of how we can be more inclusive, supportive  and welcoming to all.