Michele Thompson, a receptionist with Usel (Ulster Supported Employment and Learning), is the only person from Northern Ireland to have made the Shaw Trust Power List 2018 joining the likes of Stephen Fry, Ruby Wax, Katie Piper, Andrew Marr and Ellie Simmonds who have all been on the list in past years.
For the past 20 years, Michele has been the face of Usel and the first point of contact for people when they visit our head office. She started at Usel on work experience fresh from completing a college course in 1997 but we quickly snapped her up as an employee.
Twenty years on, she was delighted to be named in the 4th annual Shaw Trust Power List, due to be published in September. The power list is designed to celebrate achievement, break down barriers but more importantly to provide much needed encouragement to young and talented leaders of tomorrow, allowing them to see that aspiration and ambition can be fulfilled regardless of Disability.
Michele, who has cerebral palsy, is keen to inspire and encourage young people to fulfil their potential and follow their dreams.
“I love my job. It’s really important because I’m usually the first point of contact that people have with Usel and so it’s vital to give the right impression and to be welcoming and helpful,” she said.
