Guernsey Employment Trust have promoted talent from within, appointing Benjamin Martinson to Supported Employment Manager and Poppy Queripel to Team Leader.
Before working at Guernsey Employment Trust (GET), Ben was working in retail and was tasked with being a mentor for a deaf Interwork client (GET’s predecessor), during their work experience. Ben was instantly curious as to how best he could adapt his communication and support our client to create the best possible placement. This experience created a desire for Ben to embark on a new type of career.
He joined the supported employment team as an Employment Support Officer, supporting a caseload of disabled and neurodiverse individuals to prepare for work, to find work, and to maintain work. Ben’s commitment to improving outcomes for his clients propelled him from Senior Employment Support Officer to Team Leader and ultimately to Manager, after 11 years of dedicated service.
Ben said: “I am honoured to step into this role at GET. Over the past 11 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside an incredible team and partnering with both job seekers and employers to create meaningful opportunities for our community. This promotion is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone at GET, and I am excited to continue our mission of fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.”
Poppy Queripel has been promoted to Team Leader. Poppy joined the team with a decade of prior expertise in recruitment, enhancing the team’s knowledge of the finance sector and opening their eyes to the breadth of opportunities for disabled people within the commercial world.
Poppy has already made 5 years of impactful contributions as an Employment Support Officer, and this is a natural step for her career progression within GET.
Poppy said: “I am grateful for this new opportunity and excited to be joining the Client Leadership Team. Since starting at GET I have learnt and admire the valuable work we do and am proud to be part of this organisation and how we all work together. I am passionate about diversity and inclusion and advocating this with employers whilst encouraging clients, so they feel empowered. I am looking forward to continuing to promote GET and develop and engage committed partnerships and help guide the team in my new role.”
CEO Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis said: “The internal promotions of both Ben and Poppy demonstrate GET’s dedication to growth of talent and leadership from within. I am eager to see the new approaches and creative solutions that both colleagues will bring to their leadership roles. Their ideas and experience are sure to inspire and challenge us to continue improving our services. United in purpose, we persist in our journey toward social inclusion, championing the empowerment of individuals through supported employment. We are guided by a vision that ensures every disabled person who is eager to work is afforded the chance to thrive.”
Pictured: Benjamin Martinson and Poppy Queripel
