In 2025, will&able received an Innovation Grant from the Ministry of Social Development to support new initiatives that strengthen capability, leadership, and employment pathways for our people. From this opportunity, the will&able innovation project was born - a future-focused initiative aligned with the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles and our organisational values. The programme was designed in late 2025 and is now being rolled out across 2026.

EGL is a New Zealand framework that promotes greater choice, control, and inclusion for disabled people and their whānau. By embedding these principles, the innovation project ensures our team has meaningful opportunities to shape their learning, work, and career pathways.

At its core, the project is about empowerment - developing skills, supporting inclusive leadership and creating pathways into open employment for those ready to take the next step.

Three initiatives, one connected vision

The innovation project brings together three interconnected initiatives designed to support our people throughout their employment journey.

Competency framework

A structured framework for Production Assistants that defines key skills across five capability areas - doing, thinking, connecting, regulating and supporting. Assessments against each competency  help identify strengths, support growth and create clear progression pathways and individual development plans.

Supervisor training programme

A professional development programme for Supervisors and Team Leaders focused on more deeply understanding disability, neurodiversity and neurodivergence. The training will build practical support strategies and further embed inclusive leadership practices within daily operations.

Corporate secondment programme

A supported pathway for team members ready to explore employment beyond will&able. The programme connects employees with inclusive employers, allowing them to apply their skills in real-world workplaces while building confidence and experience.

Leadership and implementation

A Learning and Development Specialist has been engaged to lead the design and implementation of the programme. With extensive experience in education and strategic learning development, she is developing a cohesive framework, training, and secondment pathways that work together as an integrated system that supports both individual growth and long-term employment outcomes.

Looking ahead

This is an exciting time for will&able. The Innovation Project represents an important step forward in our journey. By investing in capability development, inclusive leadership and real-world employment pathways, we are strengthening the foundations that allow our team to grow, thrive and pursue meaningful work.

Because meaningful employment is more than a job, it is ensuring that learning and growth are embedded in a role that leads to opportunity both inside and outside our factory walls.  And that is the future we are continuing to build.