The JTS I know

Martin Hamilton • March 15, 2019

Most of you know JTS as a Fairly Trading business who purchase food from smallholder farmers in African and Asian countries. We buy and sell many amazing products like our delicious Kilombero rice from Malawi, sun ripened jams and chutneys from The Kingdom of Eswatini or the 1st ever Fairtrade certified organic coconut milk from Sri Lanka to name a few. Your support in purchasing these products does so much more for the producers than I can put into words, but did you ever consider the benefit your work does in the UK?

08-02-2010 is the date my life changed for the better. Already a father of two, with a third on the way, securing employment was in the forefront of my mind. The Jobcentre informed me of a ‘get back to work scheme’ I was eligible for and recommended that I should apply for a position at JTS. The application form left me with some issues, as I had no previous employment history, no education and no referees. I applied with a near empty application form which I expected to get no reply from. To my surprise, I was invited for an interview and, then, bagged myself a job.

I received a six-month contract with the chance of fulltime employment. Joining with only basic computer skills and little knowledge of how to conduct myself in a working environment, JTS trained me from the bottom up. I gained many new skills, such as: forklift license, excel training, sage accounts training, 1st aid training, an NC in health and safety and many more. The passion this company has for making a difference not only to the farmer who’s produce we buy but also to the people we employ is unexplainable.

This journey started for me with the chance to gain employment to support my family. It has turned into a nine-year journey I never expected all because JTS gave me a chance.

From a picker and packer, I now oversee all warehouse duties and work directly with our suppliers, building our supply chains and keeping our warehouse stocked with the many fine products we sell. I have met with farmers from Malawi, The Kingdom of Eswatini, India and Kenya seeing 1st hand the positive effects our work has in these communities and how much our relationship is valued.

The JTS you know is one that supports smallholder farmers giving employment, empowerment and a fair price for their goods. The JTS I know is one that gives amazing chances to jobseekers, offering them employment, empowerment and a fair wage for their work in the UK.

My story is one of 19 similar staff stories JTS has written over 10 years. I hope we can write many more together in the next ten years and beyond.

Happy Birthday JTS , Martin x

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