Here at Argonaut Community Enterprises, management and staff are predominantly deaf. Our team partners closely with customers to achieve the results you expect.
Deaf and disabled people are represented on our Board of Directors. We also have an adviser from the construction industry who supports infrastructure and policy development. We invite individuals with backgrounds in finance, personnel, or marketing who are interested in joining our board to contact us for more information.
Michael Brickliffe
Managing Director
My working life to this point has been varied!
Originally completing an HND and then BENG in computing aided engineering and design. I worked initially for a motor racing company near Banbury before moving to the Midlands to work for a German engineering company.
Following redundancy I trained as a heating engineer, gaining my gas safe qualification.
Eventually feeling the need for a career change I became an employment advisor. I met one of Argonaut’s founders while recruiting for available roles, and was offered the position of Operations Manger.
Several years later I became managing director, gained my losh certificate and completed my NVQ7 in strategic management and leadership.
I look forward to helping Argonaut go on to a bigger and brighter future!
Julia Cannings
Communication Support
As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), I’ve liked in the deaf community all my life. BSL (British Sign Language) is my first language.
When Argonaut started I was asked to be a phone contact point for clients just a few hours a week. This turned into an emergency interpreter for a Birmingham employee, who liked me enough to offer a permanent role!
Since then I’ve supported HR, finance and now the Managing Director with everything from polices to new qualifications.
Working with Argonaut has given me so many opportunities, and a large variety of experiences that I would never have had elsewhere.
I’m really happy working here!
Amy
Finance
Before Argonaut I worked in data input. I was unemployed for a while then found the position of support worker through advance employment job club in 2011. Initially employed as support for a cleaner just as Argonaut was starting, I eventually took more responsibilities becoming admin staff, covering holidays, and managing HR filing.
I took over the finance duties in early 2020 doing general book keeping, invoicing and managing payroll.
I have found that I learn much better on the job rather than in a classroom. Argonaut has helped me gain valuable experience in a variety of roles and I enjoy the easy communication.
Andrew Viner
Supervisor
Before working at Argonaut I had been unemployed for a long time. I’d looked for gardening work because I have horticulture qualifications, but access and communication was an issue. I started with Argonaut as a volunteer in 2013, doing some gardening, cleaning, and learning new things. I was offered a job in 2014 as a cleaner/gardener.
Since then I’ve gained CSCS and SSSTS qualifications, become much more confident, and can now travel to visit family abroad. I became a supervisor a few years ago. Now on top of my regular work I do spot checks to maintain standards and am responsible for scheduling.
I really enjoy working for Argonaut, communication is easy and everyone uses BSL.