For more than 75 years, Maximus has been dedicated to transforming lives within the employability sector. We break down barriers to employment and empower people to move forward in their careers.
Our success is built on strong, lasting relationships with more than 400 employer partners across the UK. They share our commitment to creating equal opportunities for our participants and driving positive change.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we champion inclusivity and partner with employers like Rubicon Wales who share this commitment. They work alongside us to foster diverse, supportive working environments for those with disabilities or health conditions.
Effective partnerships
As an employer partner for more than seven years, and a member of our Community Partnership Network for the last five years, Rubicon Wales has been offering our participants work trials, training and guaranteed interviews – providing them with invaluable experience and sustainable employment opportunities.
Karen Wilcox, Regional Account Manager at Maximus, explained: “We have extensive experience working with people who have disabilities and health conditions. Establishing close relationships with employers like Rubicon greatly benefits our participants, ensuring any reasonable adjustments they may need are taken care of, from pre-employment work trials to guaranteed interviews. We handle it all, and the employer trusts us to provide the support needed.”
In the last three years, Maximus has placed more than 95 participants into Rubicon’s facility management roles in South Wales. This involves fully certified training for security positions as well as stewarding roles at local events.
With extensive experience in managing properties facilities in a range of different sectors, Rubicon regularly provides bespoke training courses to Maximus participants with the aim of employing them within cleaning, security or traffic management sectors.
Commenting on the partnership’s success, Rachel Coggles, Area Manager of Rubicon Wales, added: “Our partnership with Maximus is extremely successful and it’s thriving because of the conversations that take place about the individual participants, their training needs and finding a role that is right for them.
“At Rubicon we are passionate about building an inclusive environment where everyone’s needs are met and recognise that each person is individual. We provide the training before supporting people into finding the right work environment for them, which results in high levels of recruitment, and most importantly, retention.”
Real lives transformed
After struggling with depression and anxiety for several years, 25-year-old Daisy, from Cardiff, had been unemployed for six months before joining the Work and Health Programme in February 2024 in need of further support.
Recalling the challenges she encountered, Daisy said: “I’ve always struggled with my mental health, and I used to have panic attacks daily. I joined Maximus during a challenging time, when I wasn’t sleeping and experiencing weekly breakdowns.
“Maximus changed everything for me. They never made me feel shame or embarrassment. They accommodated my mental health struggles with genuine understanding and gave me the tools to help me manage my mental health.”
Meanwhile in Swansea, James, 29, had been unemployed for nine years after caring for his seriously ill father. He was apprehensive about returning to the labour market.
When he joined Work and Health Programme Pioneer in May 2024, he was looking for a fresh start: “I needed to be back in work because having a job gives you a sense of purpose. I was definitely ready to start a new chapter in my life.”
The result
Neither James or Daisy had previous security or stewarding experience. However, the Maximus team encouraged to attend a recruitment day with Rubicon in their respective Maximus offices. After successful interviews, James completed SIA training and started work as a Security Guard whilst Daisy began work as a Steward and has since completed an SIA course too.
Excited about the prospect of what the future holds, Daisy added: “Normally, I would have said no out of fear of new experiences. But Maximus equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills needed. So I took the leap and haven’t looked back.”
“Each day brings new challenges, and I’ve discovered my potential and resilience in ways I never expected. I can honestly say this is the best job I’ve had. While this path wasn’t what I envisioned initially, working for Rubicon has opened up exciting possibilities.
“They’ve provided me with an immediate sense of belonging. This is something I’d never experienced before and I’m eager to see where this journey takes me. Maximus and Rubicon have changed my life.”
Rachel concluded: “We believe that everybody deserves the opportunity to have a job. And by working with Maximus we can help more people transform their lives in the local community. We are confident that the participants Maximus provide want to learn, want to work and want to do well. We want them to thrive and be their best selves. Like Maximus, we have their best interests at heart.”
