From Corporate Ladder to Creating Opportunities: Ben Aires’ Story
Ben Aires, a former BT Openreach senior manager, has taken a unique approach to business growth and social impact. After launching the Norfolk franchise of More Than Loft Ladders, he partnered with social enterprise Rippleacts to offer work experience that’s turning into real jobs. This innovative approach is making a significant difference in the community, one rung at a time.
Ben’s journey began when he was introduced to Rippleacts, a Norfolk-based social enterprise that supports people facing barriers to employment, through a former colleague from his time at BT. Rippleacts connects individuals struggling to find work with local employers willing to offer hands-on experience and a genuine opportunity to progress. For Ben, this partnership felt like a natural fit, as he wanted to give someone a proper chance to prove themselves.
A Partnership with Purpose
Ben’s decision to partner with Rippleacts was driven by his desire to make a meaningful impact. “I wanted it to be more than a tick-box exercise,” he said. “I wanted to give someone a proper chance – real work, real responsibility, and the opportunity to prove themselves.” With the backing of the franchise model, Ben was able to focus on building a strong local team, creating opportunities that benefit both the business and the wider community.
Through Rippleacts, Ben offered a work placement to Luke, who had previous practical experience and a strong work ethic but had struggled to secure stable employment. Within just three weeks, the placement turned into paid employment, demonstrating the effectiveness of this partnership. “Luke threw himself into it,” Ben added. “You could see his confidence building day by day. Watching someone grow into a role like that has been incredibly rewarding.”
Culture in Action
Luke’s placement-turned-employment reinforced why Ben had wanted to invest in the franchise in the first place – having the freedom to make decisions that align with his values, while also strengthening his team and business culture. “Being able to give someone like Luke a chance, to see them succeed and know you’ve played a small part in changing their circumstances – that’s huge,” said Ben. “It’s been a real highlight of running MTLL Norfolk.”
Liam Hobbs, the franchise director, highlights Ben’s approach as perfectly representative of what the brand stands for. “What Ben has done is exactly what we want our franchisees to feel empowered to do. Our franchise model provides the support to grow a successful business, but also the freedom to act on personal values. Ben’s work with Rippleacts is a brilliant example of that in action!”
For more information about Rippleacts, visit https://www.rippleacts.org/. To learn more about Ben’s story and how More Than Loft Ladders is creating real routes back to work, visit Here.
