AN international furniture company has been hailed as Good Employer of the Year for its dedication to helping disabled people in the workplace.

GGI Office Furniture UK, based in Global Way, Darwen, won the award at the first Independent Living Awards in Manchester.

The company was nominated by Supported Employment Service, Mill Hill Street, Blackburn, an extension of Blackburn with Darwen Social Services, which aims to provide guidance, training and employer support.

GGI, founded in 1974, employs disabled people in a variety of roles from shop-floor assistant to office worker. Of its 150 employees, 11.5 per cent are classed as disabled.

The awards, run by disabled charity Breakthrough UK, were set up this year to mark its 10th anniversary.

Julie Halstead, human resources manager at GGI, said: "As a company we concentrate on people's abilities, not their disabilities. The Mill Hill Supported Employment Service have helped support people who have been on long-term sick, those with learning difficulties and those with mental disabilities, work in GGI.

"They have a mentoring-type scheme where workers from the employment service will supervise with the employee at work. I believe if a person can do a job, it's theirs."