Waikato businessman honoured for inclusive attitude

Waikato businessman honoured for inclusive attitude

Selwyn Cook is committed to employing people with disabilities. The Waikato businessman believes everyone has a disability of some kind, whether it’s physical, intellectual or confidence related.

Selwyn and SSC Service Stations, where he works as retailer, have been honoured for their efforts by being selected for an ‘Attitude ACC Employer Award’ in the 2014 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrates the achievements of disabled Kiwis.

As the operator of 14 Z service stations in the Waikato region, Selwyn wanted to ensure his business was inclusive of people with disabilities. So two years ago, after being inspired by TV programme Attitude, he approached disability recruitment agency Workbridge Waikato about hiring staff.

Selwyn says Workbridge is now his ‘first choice’ recruitment agency, having connected him with many wonderful employees who have enriched his business.

“They are competent employees, without question. They bring an understanding that life isn’t always fair. They never have man ‘flu. Rain, hail or shine they battle their way to work,” he says.

Selwyn says he is hugely proud of his staff, including Biju Thomas who was recently recognised as the leading Z Service Station customer service representative in the region. Despite losing the use of his right hand and arm in a motorcycle accident, Biju was acknowledged for the pride and passion he gives to his role.

Blown away to be named an Attitude Award finalist, Selwyn says: “We don’t employ disabled people. We just employ good people and if they’ve got a physical disability, so what?”

Selwyn and SSC Service Stations will find out if they are Attitude Award winners at a black tie gala on World Disability Day, December 3 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

Attitude Awards Trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the elite national wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, says: “This is the seventh Awards and it’s always such an exciting time for everyone at Attitude Pictures because we find out who the finalists are. We have started travelling the country to film the finalists and even though this is the seventh year their stories continue to amaze us.”

Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com, an innovative web platform created by Attitude Pictures, in early November to see the short films about the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award.’

There are eight categories in the Attitude Awards: Sport Performer of the Year, Courage in Sport, Artistic Achievement, Youth, Spirit of Attitude, Attitude ACC Employer Award, Making a Difference Award and the inaugural Attitude Junior Award, for an achiever under 15 years of age. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a People’s Choice winner and a Hall of Fame inductee are also announced on the night.

The ACC Employer Award is sponsored by ACC. Other sponsors supporting the awards include: Invacare, Barfoot and Thompson, Westpac, IHC Foundation, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, Air New Zealand and Wayne Francis Charitable Trust

Chief Executive of ACC Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the awards for the seventh year, including sponsorship of the Attitude ACC Employer Award and the Attitude ACC Supreme Award.

"I'm really looking forward to this year's Attitude Awards, which are a significant event on New Zealand's calendar. Through celebrating excellence in the disability community and the important contributions made by New Zealanders with disabilities, the awards have the power to shift perceptions and to enhance lives."

The Attitude Awards are inspired by the positive stories shown weekly on TV One’s “Attitude” programme, which screens at 8:30am on Sundays.

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