MANPOWER WINS CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF SUPPORT
FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Rome, Italy, 8 December 2003 – Manpower Inc.,
a worldwide provider of higher-value staffing services, has today
received a Corporate Partnership Award in recognition of its contribution
to the European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD). Mr David
Arkless, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Manpower, accepted
the award from Ms Anna Diamantopoulou of the European Commission
at the EYPD closing conference gala dinner, held on Saturday 6 December
at the historic Complesso Santo Spirito in Rome. The Corporate Partnership
Award recognises Manpower’s activities as a European business
leader that is actively working towards creating a more inclusive
and accepting society through better employment opportunities for
all people, and particularly those with disabilities.
The gala dinner followed a two-day conference, organised jointly
by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Department for European
Community Policies, the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
and the European Commission. The conference, ‘Beyond 2003
- European Year of People with Disabilities: what challenges for
a more inclusive society?’ marked the closure of the EYPD,
and also incorporated the official handover ceremony from the Italian
to the Irish presidency on 7 December.
Presentations included a full overview of the results and activities
developed for the EYPD by all its contributing partners, as well
as official speeches from the President of the Council, His Excellency
Silvio Berlusconi and the Mayor of Rome. His Excellency Pat Cox,
President of the European Parliament, His Excellency Romano Prodi,
President of the European Commission, Mrs Thérèse
Kempeneers, Secretary of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and
Maura Nobili, Chairwoman of Manpower – Italy, were also present.
During the EYPD, Manpower has focused on Business and Disability,
producing two publications targeted at employers to raise awareness
of disability issues and provide practical guidelines for the interviewing
and recruitment of people with disabilities.
The company was one of the principle organisers of a Business and
Disability Seminar for 100 European employers and business leaders
that was a core element of the EYPD Corporate Partnership participation.
This highlighted Manpower’s own commitment to improving employment
opportunities for candidates with disabilities across Europe and
also presented and discussed best practice models for working with
people with disabilities. Manpower recognises the importance of
building on the numerous activities that have been carried out and
the relationships that have been formed during the EYPD 2003. As
such, it is one of the leading companies looking into setting up
a European business and disability network to enable the initiatives
of 2003 to continue into 2004 and beyond.
David Arkless, Manpower’s Senior Vice President, Corporate
Affairs, commented: “We are privileged to accept this award
for our activity during the European Year of People with Disabilities.
If our efforts during this time have helped raise awareness of the
issues people with disabilities encounter when wishing to take up
employment of any sort, then our activities have been worthwhile.
We believe that everyone has the right to employment and therefore
we work actively, on a Global basis to help people with disabilities
enter the workplace. This is deeply embedded in the way we work
as a company. We are honoured to have participated in this important
programme and look forward to seeing continued improvements in the
inclusion of people with disabilities in many more work environments
over the coming years.”
Manpower was one of twelve corporate partners to be honoured at
the ceremony.
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the staffing industry, providing
workforce management services and solutions to clients through 4,000
offices in 63 countries. The firm annually provides employment to
two million people worldwide and is an industry leader in employee
assessment and training. Manpower also provides a range of staffing
solutions, engagement and consulting services worldwide under the
subsidiary brands of Brook Street, Elan, The Empower Group and Jefferson
Wells. More information on Manpower Inc. can be found at the company's
website, www.manpower.com
Contact: Helen Kerrison,
Manager Community Relations
Manpower EMEA
Helen.Kerrison@ManpowerInc.com
Tel: + 32 2 639 10 20
