A brand certifying inclusive employers in the hospitality sector

Valueable, founded in Italy in 2014, promotes employment for people with intellectual disabilities in hospitality. By 2024, it spanned 8 countries and facilitated 350+ placements with inclusive employers.

Founded in Italy in 2014 by the Associazione Italiana Persone Down (AIPD), Valueable promotes employment for people with intellectual disabilities in the hospitality sector, connecting job seekers with employers offering apprenticeships, training, and employment, supported by vocational training providers. Launched in 2016, the Valueable brand is awarded to employers providing these opportunities. By 2024 the network spanned eight European countries, facilitating over 350 placements through various contract types.

Problems Targeted

People with intellectual disabilities face high unemployment and lack vocational training, whereas engaged employers often do not receive the recognition they deserve.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Founded in 2014 by the Italian Association for People with Down Syndrome (AIPD) in Rome, the Valueable Network is dedicated to promoting social inclusion and employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities, particularly those with Down syndrome, within the hospitality sector. The Valueable network connects hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses with job seekers across Europe, facilitating targeted placements such as apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Accredited Vocational Education and Training providers support the entire inclusion process, managing candidate selection, mentorship, and offering resources such as e-learning courses, video tutorials, and customized mobile apps for trainees. In 2016, Valueable launched the “Valueable Handing Opportunities” brand, a certification recognizing hospitality businesses committed to employing individuals with intellectual disabilities. This certification features three levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – indicating the varying degrees of engagement and commitment to inclusion. By mid-2024, Valueable had expanded to nearly 100 cities in eight European countries, supporting over 350 interns, with an internship success rate boosting job prospects by over 50 per cent. Valueable’s methods and tools are freely available online, and the brand is offered at no cost, encouraging members to display it on doors or any public-facing areas.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The Valueable network was financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission from 2014 to 2024, through four consecutive grants. In 2024 funding comes from annual fees by partner training agencies and hospitality companies, the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, income from services to external organizations, and participation in a EU-funded project (New Work Tech, led by Tampere University in Finland). (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

The Valueable Network fosters inclusion and jobs for people with disabilities in hospitality.

The Valueable Network fosters inclusion and jobs for people with disabilities in hospitality.

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