Meet Oxfordshire’s young furniture salesperson extraordinaire.
Never one to miss an opportunity, when Warwick Bourton’s internship supervisors visited him for a workplace progress report, they got more than they bargained for; the cheeky teenager selling them a couple of office chairs.
Warwick is gaining valuable work experience with Bicester-based family company, Oxford Office Furniture.
Arranged through Oxfordshire County Council, the supported internship scheme works with people who have additional needs, understanding their individual skills and supporting them to find and maintain a job that is right for them.
For Warwick, aged 19, the furniture company seems to be the perfect placement and everyone is delighted with his progress.
Kay Thomas, from Oxford Office Furniture, said: “I couldn’t believe it, there I was giving one of the county council’s employment team an update on how Warwick’s settling in, then out of the corner of my eye I notice him shaking the hand of their colleague. Next thing, he’s helping them load two chairs into the back of their car!
“It made me laugh and also very proud. We were confident this placement would work, however, seeing him using his initiative like that showed what a great decision we made in supporting the council’s internship scheme.
“Warwick might be working in office furniture, but as he’s finding out every day, it’s so much more than a desk job.”
The experience is not only honing Warwick’s natural sales skills, he’s also learning about the environment and bolstering his knowledge of digital communications and marketing.
Warwick, said: “All the office furniture is recycled, nothing goes to landfill, that’s something I really like. I can tell you that chairs and desks are returned from clients, cleaned, safety checked, and then reused good as new.
“We’re not just talking a few either, there are over 1,000 chairs waiting to be reused in one of the main warehouses, and it’s me who sells them to the next customers too.
“I’m promoting equipment on social media, selling it on eBay, delivering and collecting. I’m often the passenger in Kay’s delivery truck, just in Oxfordshire at the moment, but there are customers right across the UK, so hopefully I’ll get to venture further in the future.
“I love the travelling as there’s loads of time to chat with the driver, see new places, and it’s great meeting all the people we deliver to. I got 100 per cent pass on my manual handling course, so bagging qualifications as well.
“I’ve always enjoyed social media, however, it wasn’t until I came to Oxford Office Furniture that I discovered how it’s used by companies to promote their products; the whole experience is fun and exciting.”
Warwick is a former pupil of The Bicester School and since 2022 has been at Activate College in Banbury studying Level 3 mechanics and IT, alongside his supported internship at Oxford Office Furniture.
Lisa Lyons, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Children Services, said: “Our Oxfordshire supported internship scheme offers huge benefits for young people and adults with additional needs, helping them gain meaningful employment opportunities.
“We are particularly pleased with Warwick’s progress. He has already benefited from support through our children and young people’s team. Now we’re able to continue with him on his journey, watching him thrive through this exciting work placement.
“By securing and retaining a job, individuals like Warwick gain a real sense of achievement, being part of a workforce and living as independently as possible.”
Oxfordshire Employment plays an important part in the county council’s Oxfordshire Way vision to support people to live well and independently, within their own communities for as long as possible.
It is also part of the council’s commitment to work with local businesses and partners for environmental, economic and social benefit. The programme adds significant social value while helping to diversify the local job market.
The council has been providing supported employment for almost 80 years.
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