Tracy is boosting employment prospects
Tracy Fee set up Hiyed CIC to help others, like her, who had to break down barriers in the workplace.
A mental health nurse of 30 years, Tracy loved her job, but it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with autism late in her career that she began to better understand the challenges she’d faced during her career.
Thankfully, she had great colleagues and family surrounding her, however the realisation that others may not be so fortunate dawned and inspired her to launch Hiyed CIC.
Supporting disabled people and those furthest away from the jobs market, the social enterprise provides advice, training and support to help re-integrate them into the workforce.
Fast-forward nine months and Hiyed CIC now employs 20 members of staff, with lived experience of disability themselves, and has helped numerous people with physical or mental health difficulties, learning disabilities or neurodivergent needs, get back into work or build up the confidence to succeed in paid job roles.
It is also working with dozens of employers, from the NHS to Karbon Homes, Durham County Council, Northumbrian Water and smaller businesses to ensure their workplaces are inclusive and accessible.
“County Durham has one of the worst disability employment gap statistics in the country; however we’re hoping to change that,” Tracy said. “Since we set up in November, we’ve helped over 100 clients and have onboarded numerous businesses to support our cause by becoming Disability Confidence.
“I know from my own experience just how daunting certain tasks can be for those with disabilities, however if we all had more of an understanding of the challenges they face, then we could make the world of work better for everyone.”
The Hiyed CIC was supported by the Social Enterprise Durham Boost programme, delivered by the North East BIC.
Social Enterprise Durham Boost is one of six pilot initiatives being delivered across England, funded by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. The programme has helped dozens of County Durham social entrepreneurs start up and grow purpose-led enterprises.
To find out more or to get involved, visit: https://www.ne-bic.co.uk/social-boost-durham/ or phone: 0191 516 6138.