Inclusive Training Brings Italian Trainees to Limerick
The iNUA Hotel Collection celebrates six years with Down Syndrome Ireland as it becomes the first Irish company to achieve European ValueAble Certification.
The iNUA Hotel Collection has been officially accredited by the European ValueAble Network, making the group the first Irish company to achieve this prestigious European certification for inclusive employment.
The ValueAble Network, co-funded by Erasmus+, promotes inclusive employment across eight European countries by connecting hotels with organisations that support individuals with intellectual disabilities. As part of this collaboration, the Radisson Blu Limerick welcomed four Italian students and two tutors from the ValueAble Network for a two-week Erasmus+ work placement, the first of its kind in Ireland.
Down Syndrome Ireland’s Employment Team have been working with the Italian Down Syndrome Association and many other European Down Syndrome Associations over the past 18 months as part of this programme. Our aim is to create a network of recognised inclusive employers in the hospitality industry who create work opportunities for adults with Down syndrome, aligned with best practice and the values of the network. As pat of the network and Erasmus+, we were delighted to welcome four Italian interns and their tutors to Ireland in October.
Aurora, Letizia, Jesus and Giulio, along with their tutors, came to Limerick on a two and a half week internship, hosted by the Radisson Blu, Limerick.
The students trained in accommodation, food and beverage departments, and were even joined by some of our Limerick branch members for further bar training with Heineken.
“This is a great opportunity – it’s my first work experience and I am loving it!” says Giulio.
The event featured a Heineken-led bar skills session in partnership with Assitiv, the Irish assistive technology company whose innovations are helping members with Down Syndrome thrive in the workplace. Showcasing how technology can make hospitality roles more accessible, the training saw iNUA’s colleagues and the visiting Italian trainees used Assitiv Apple Watches programmed to break down tasks into simple, guided steps. When guests placed QR code orders at tables, notifications appeared on the watches, prompting the trainees to prepare and serve drinks with confidence and independence. The skills session highlighted how thoughtful technology and inclusive design can open meaningful career pathways and set new standards for accessibility in Irish hospitality.
“I like to work, the colleagues are kind and friendly, and I am able to practice my English,” adds Letizia.
“This collaboration with the European ValueAble Network is a milestone moment for inclusive employment in Ireland,’ said Aidan Stacey, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland. “Through our six-year partnership with The iNUA Hotel Collection, we’ve shown that inclusion works for individuals, for businesses, and for communities. Seeing our colleagues thrive in meaningful hospitality roles, and now welcoming European trainees to Ireland, is proof that this model can inspire lasting change across the industry.”
“Everything is going well at work, I fit in well with the team, I am excited to be here and don’t want to leave,” says Aurora.
“We are honoured to be Ireland’s first hotel group to achieve European ValueAble Certification,” Sean O’Driscoll, CEO of The iNUA Hotel Collection added. “Our partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland enters its sixth year and continues to deliver a tangible impact in communities nationwide with 25 colleagues now employed in our hotels. We are proud to now also welcome our first Erasmus participants from Italy through the ValueAble Network and to demonstrate how innovation and inclusion can work hand in hand.”
“All the trainees are working well, learning new skills to clean up hotel rooms,” says Jesus.
The European ValueAble Network is a hospitality initiative co-funded by Erasmus+ that promotes inclusive workplaces across eight European countries. It connects hotels with social partners to provide professional training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Aoife Gaffney, Head of Inclusive Employment & Impact Partnerships, DSI, said, “This opportunity has opened our minds to the value of international internships and how adults with Down syndrome can benefit greatly from experiencing different cultures, work environments and meeting their peers with Down syndrome in different countries. We look forward to giving some of our Irish members an opportunity to have a similar experience abroad in the future.”
