Mark Cook is a well-liked and enthusiastic member of the team at Proman, where he has been working since 2024. His job has become an important part of his life, giving him a strong sense of purpose, pride and achievement. Outside work, Mark has a real passion for film. He enjoys writing film reviews and sharing his thoughts through his online blogs. Recently, he celebrated his 40th birthday in London surrounded by his family, another special milestone in a busy and fulfilling life.

There are additional challenges that people with intellectual disabilities face when seeking employment, with statistics showing us that less than 5% of all people with learning disabilities are in paid employment, despite 86% of adults saying that they want to work. At the Down’s Syndrome Association, our supported employment program – WorkFit – supports adults who have Down Syndrome to find meaningful, sustainable employment by connecting them to forward thinking employers who want a more diverse workforce which in turn leads to better organisational health.

Inclusion and Equality

Having equality does not mean being treated the same… it means having support and systems in place to help people access the same opportunities as everyone else. Eliminating systematic barriers for all ensures that opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances.

Mark’s Progression

Independence is a significant goal for people who have Down’s Syndrome. Autonomy allows individuals to live, work, and travel on their own terms. Mark travels to work independently using support from with the Access to Work scheme from DWP. This is a government grant that provides practical and financial support to help people with a physical or mental health condition or disability. to start work or stay in employment. Mark uses the grant to pay for taxis that take him to and from work so he can travel independently without having to rely on anyone else.

Mark started work for Proman in 2024, originally doing a morning shift once a week on a Tuesday. During his shift, he spent his time working through spreadsheets and finding the correct information from websites to add to the date he was compiling. Mark really enjoys this job as it keeps him busy. The team at Proman were able to support Mark with adapting the process to make it more accessible. He can navigate an AI system called Copilot which scans the internet for the information he needs, which speeds up the process. Mark wasn’t quite sure on the use of AI in the beginning but quickly got used to it and finds it useful.

Fast forward to 2026, Mark has expanded his hours with the team at Proman. During his time, in the morning he works on the database project he has been doing since he joined the team. After lunch, he sits with the compliance team working on ad-hoc information; updating candidate information and checking the correct right to work documents are there and updating the systems on clients who are registered with Proman.

Mark’s insight

‘My work is enjoyable and something I understand perfectly how to do. I always have clear instructions as to what is expected of me, I find this helpful. Staff are easy to speak to and they go the extra mile to help me. What I like is that they have really tried to make me feel part of the team. Those are the reasons why I like working at Proman.’ – Mark

Mark’s parents told us . . .

‘The first thing to say is that Mark really enjoys his work at Proman. He works from 9am on a Tuesday and his role calls for him to search for and organise data, something he is able to apply himself to quite easily. Mark is part of a small team, and he enjoys working with them, he says they are supportive and easy to work with. He says that he also enjoys the chats that he has with his colleagues during the lunch break!

Although Mark leaves home early on Tuesdays, he never has a problem in getting off to Proman. This is surely a sign that he really likes going to work!

As his parents we are delighted that Mark has a job that he enjoys. The support he has had, both from Workfit and from the team at Proman has been excellent. We had a positive feeling about the job at Proman almost as soon as we met the team and this positive view has been proven. The Proman team have been exemplary in their inclusive approach and with the support that they have shown Mark. There is always someone around that Mark can refer to if he has a problem or a query which means that he never has to feel under great pressure and can simply get on with his work’

The impact

Overall, Marks experience of joining Proman has had a profound impact on both his life and the life of his family. His job gives him a strong sense of purpose and achievement, while also providing opportunities to build relationships, enjoy the social aspects of work and experience the independence that comes with earning his own wage.

Proman is a fantastic example of how inclusive employment can make a real difference to the life of a person who has Down Syndrome. With the right opportunities, support and often very simple reasonable adjustments, people who have Down’s Syndrome can thrive in the workplace and bring so much to the teams they are part of.

If Mark’s journey has inspired to you to consider employing someone who has Down’s Syndrome, you can register your interest online via the ‘I have work to offer’ page on the Down’s Syndrome Association website. A dedicated WorkFit Officer will then talk to you about the advice, resources and training that we can offer you and your organisation, free of charge and without obligation.

Learn more about ‘Positive Action’ here: Positive Action: Lawful steps that employers can take to support individuals with a disability | Workfit

To find out more about WorkFit and how we support people who have Down’s syndrome to access meaningful work opportunities that can benefit the rest of their lives, please contact the team on 0333 12 12 300 or email us on dsworkfit@downs-syndrome.org.uk For more information visit the WorkFit website: downs-syndrome.org.uk/WorkFit

The post More Than a Job: Mark’s Journey into Employment appeared first on Downs Syndrome Association.

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