Building Purpose Driven Partnerships
At Soudal, we believe great partnerships go beyond transactions, they create value for people, business, and community. Our commercial partnership with Achievement House is a strong example of how inclusive employment can deliver consistent, high‑quality outcomes while supporting people with disability and neurodivergence.
As Achievement House celebrates 50 years of impact, we are proud to work alongside an organisation that shares our commitment to care, capability, and continuous improvement.
Our Partnership with Achievement House
Achievement House is an employment organisation based in Cambridge, but it is not a traditional workplace. Instead, it is a learning environment and guided workspace where people come to understand what being part of a workplace is like, learn their rights and responsibilities, and build skills in a setting that is safe, supportive, and free from pressure.
Many of the people who come to Achievement House have never had the opportunity to learn these fundamentals in a space designed specifically for their needs. They work alongside peers, often people they already know through disability networks, which creates the trust and confidence needed to grow.
Learning happens at a self‑directed pace, supported by Achievement Guides who walk alongside each person every step of the way. Achievement House is not a destination; it is a stepping stone on a pathway.
The purpose of Achievement House’s disability enterprise is clear: to support people to move from guided employment into supported employment and, wherever possible, into open, mainstream employment. Without this crucial stage, many participants would never be given a fair opportunity in traditional workplaces.
Delivering for Soudal
Through our partnership, Achievement House supports Soudal by completing a range of essential packaging and assembly services, including:
- Labelling Soudal sauce bottles
- Packing cable ties
- Assembling and packing rail tracks
- Creating nozzle packs
- Packing hot glue sticks
These tasks require precision, consistency, and attention to detail, all of which the Achievement House team delivers with pride, reliability, and care. As Wendy from Achievement House so perfectly describes the relationship:
Inclusive Employment in Action
Working with Achievement House highlights the strengths inclusive workplaces bring to business. Their team demonstrates strong capability in:
- Manual dexterity and fine motor skills
- Counting, sorting, and accurate labelling
- Repetition and process consistency
- Teamwork, companionship, and communication
- Pride, purpose, and accountability
For Soudal, this translates into dependable output, high‑quality results, and a supply chain that reflects our commitment to social responsibility.
A Workplace Built on Kindness & Respect
The culture at Achievement House is unmistakable. It is calm, supportive, and grounded in kindness, empathy, and respect.
This culture is shaped by people like Wendy, a compassionate leader with lived experience as a parent to an autistic son. Her leadership reflects a deep belief that all people deserve dignity, care, and opportunity, a value that is felt throughout the organisation every day.
Supporting Independence & Community Connections
Achievement House employs approximately 20–30 people with disability and neurodivergence, supported by six able‑bodied staff, operating Monday to Friday.
To reduce barriers to employment, a shuttle service is provided for some local employees, helping them travel safely to and from work, bus depots, and key transport hubs. This support plays an important role in building independence, confidence, and consistency in the workplace.
Achievement House is also strongly supported by the Cambridge community, including ongoing involvement from the Cambridge Rotary Club, who help bring events such as Christmas celebrations to life.
Looking Ahead: Growth, Innovation and Opportunity
Achievement House continues to evolve, strengthening both its social impact and commercial capability. Current and future initiatives include:
- Expanding pick‑up and drop‑off services
- Developing sustainability reporting
- Introducing visual cues to track progress and increase engagement
- Improving systems to support long‑term scalability
Their long‑term vision is clear:
- Support people into mainstream employment
- Transition volunteers into full‑time roles
- Create sustainable, inclusive employment pathways
Why this Partnership Matters to Soudal
Achievement House is more than a supplier, they are a valued partner who consistently delivers quality work while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
This partnership reinforces Soudal’s commitment to inclusive employment, community‑focused business, and purpose‑led partnerships. As Achievement House marks 50 years of service, we look forward to continuing to build a future where business success and social impact go hand in hand.
