Hays Ireland and Paralympics Ireland today announced a new partnership that will see the will see the multinational, recruitment industry leader, announced as the Official Recruitment Partner to Paralympics Ireland and provide career guidance and mentorship to members of Paralympics Ireland. The launch was hosted at the Dublin Office of Hays Ireland on Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
The partnership will run until the end of 2024 to promote workplace inclusivity. Paralympians have to juggle their intense training schedule with sourcing an income. Performance athletes may miss out on the careers and advisory support work that others may receive – including help with drafting CVs and arranging interviews – making the transition to the workplace more challenging.
Paralympians can leave it until they are approaching the end of their athletic career before they begin to consider their post-competition careers. This partnership will aim to help athletes prepare to transition into professions they may wish to pursue.
As part of their official partnership with Paralympics Ireland, Hays will provide recruitment and key hire support to the team; support Paralympic athletes as they transition from their sporting career into the workplace and build a network of like-minded organisations who want to ensure their workplaces are as inclusive and accessible as possible for everyone.
Hays is also conducting research with Paralympics Ireland to gain new insights into the challenges athletes face when seeking meaningful employment, and how workplaces can become more inclusive, the results of which will be released at the end of October.
Speaking at the launch Maureen Lynch Operations Director at Hays Ireland, said, “We are delighted to launch our new partnership with Paralympics Ireland. Elite athletes, including our Irish Paralympians, make huge sacrifices to excel in their chosen fields. Their dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence are genuinely inspiring and are something that any professional environment can benefit from.
“We know that making the transition from elite sport into the professional workplace can be difficult. So too is the challenge of balancing these two commitments in parallel. In the coming weeks, we will be publishing research, in parallel with Paralympics Ireland, looking at the challenges facing Irish Paralympians in making this transition.
“Hays Ireland wants to support our Irish Paralympians on this journey and help them harness their unique attributes of drive, discipline and focus to the next chapter of their lives.”
Paralympic shotput athlete Mary Fitzgerald said, “Paralympians have so much to offer employers, with their different perspectives and experiences being a real asset for any organisation. Diversity shouldn’t simply be seen as a buzzword, but as something that can bring real value. To help bring onboard former Para athletes, employers should do what they can to ensure that workplaces, and their recruitment processes, are made accessible for everybody. I’m delighted that Hays has chosen to partner with Paralympics Ireland and look forward to working with them. With the right networking, knowledge and guidance, Para athletes can make a positive difference in whatever field they choose to work in.”
Speaking at the Partnership launch, Paralympics Ireland Vice President, Lisa Clancy said, “We are very proud to announce our new partnership with Hays. Through our new agreement we will be taking a holistic approach to helping our athletes to be the best that they can be both on and off the arena of competition and reach their full potential.”
