Making solid timber bedframes for two great South Australian companies is all in a day’s work for Hayden and Matthew and the team at Commercial Enterprises at Reynella.
Hayden and Matthew are two supported employees who play a key role in ensuring the solid timber bedframes produced for Elite Bedding and Adriatic Slumber are a ‘top notch’ local product.
With COVID-19 highlighting the importance of local manufacturing, Commercial Operations Manager Daryl Guidotto says the team prides itself on producing quality products for its clients.
“Elite and Adriatic are long standing clients, and we continue to grow with them, increasing our output to meet their business needs,” Daryl says.
“Both companies are always seeking to enhance their products and we do product development with them wherever we can. We’re really proud to produce a quality local product, and Elite and Adriatic continue to work with us because of this.”
Hayden and Matthew have been part of the team producing up to 30 bedframes a day for five years, and they love the work.
I get to make something that’s useful for people, and I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here.
“I love that it’s all hand-on,” Hayden says.
Matthew enjoys the camaraderie of the manufacturing team at Reynella, but also the fact he gets to learn the safe use of tools.
“I get to make something that’s useful for people, and I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here,” Matthew says.
Daryl says Hayden and Matthew help with supervising some of the work, and their success is testimony to the rewarding careers which SA Group Enterprises can offer in supported employment.
“These guys do really well, helping to lead the group and teaching others how to do certain aspects of the bedframe making process,” he says.
Both men have goals they want to achieve in the next few years. Matthew wants to undertake a Certificate III in Disability so he can become a supervisor, as well as get his forklift licence and his Learner’s permit. Hayden wants to become a fire warden for the Reynella site, and obtain his forklift licence and Learner’s permit.
Elite and Adriatic sell retail and commercial.
Anyone interested in finding out more information about supported employment opportunities with SA Group Enterprises can contact the Reynella office on (08) 7231 4975.
Matthew and Hayden building a bedframe, with Operations Manager Michael Johns in the background.