Smurfit Kappa forms partnership with Trinity College Dublin to support people with intellectual disabilities

Smurfit Kappa has announced a partnership with the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID) as part of its EveryOne inclusion and diversity strategy.

Smurfit Kappa’s EveryOne programme aims to create an even more inclusive workplace for its 46,000 employees through a range of initiatives to champion and promote diversity.

As part of the initial three-year partnership, a series of internships will take place at the company’s Group Headquarters in Dublin.

The TCPID, which sits within the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin, aims to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in education and society. It runs a two-year full-time Level 5 Certificate programme which covers 22 modules across six interdisciplinary themes over the two years.

Speaking about the new partnership with Smurfit Kappa, Marie Devitt, TCPID Pathways Coordinator, said: We believe that the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in education, employment and society should be a right, not an aspiration.

Having Smurfit Kappa on board with us as a business partner will allow us to offer exciting opportunities for our students and graduates to develop key employment skills and to work towards building their confidence and gaining greater independence.

Sharon Whitehead, Smurfit Kappa VP of HR, added: The TCPID is providing life-changing opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities and we are really looking forward to welcoming our first graduate into our Dublin HQ.

We believe that this internship will be equally valuable both for our staff and the person who joins us. At Smurfit Kappa, we recognise that the only thing we truly have in common is diversity. Our EveryOne programme strives to harness the power of these differences and make the most of them.

A TCPID graduate will join Smurfit Kappa in the coming months.

More information about Smurfit Kappa can be found at https://smurfitkappa.com/ie