Kerehi Maxwell is a whizz in the kitchen. She's a master with a knife, crafts a spectacular seafood sauce and is the kind of ‘go-get em' employee most business owners would trip over themselves trying to hire.

For the last six weeks, the 25-year-old has been at Hell Pizza Tauranga undertaking the ‘Active in Hell' paid work experience programme, which the company delivers in collaboration with IHC.

Hell Pizza Tauranga owner Sandy Shot and Active in Hell trainee Kerehi Maxwell. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Kerehi is one of 64 trainees nationwide taking part in the programme, which consists of two training sessions of two hours held weekly, covering everything from mandatory health and safety education to preparing food for sale.

Last Tuesday was Kerehi's final day working at the store and she only had one word to describe her experience: 'awesome”.

'I've learned a lot of different skills. I've been using them outside of the shop too,” says Kerehi.

'I feel more confident. My family are over the moon too, they think it's awesome that I've been working here. I would love a job at Hell Pizza.”

Hell Pizza Tauranga and Papamoa owner Sandy Shot has worked closely with Kerehi these last six weeks and says she's really proud to be part of the programme, describing it as 'the most exciting, fun and enjoyable experience I've ever had”.

'Kerehi is really efficient, has amazing attention to detail and shows initiative and enthusiasm for learning new things; and so it's been really easy to teach her.

'She's definitely part of the team. I'm actually in discussions with my manager and we're considering offering her a permanent position.”

But it's just not Kerehi who's benefited from the programme. Sandy says the learning experience has definitely been a two-way street.

'I've grown as a business owner and as a person, I've gained a lot. I've become more patient, more confident, I'm better at training people and feel my knowledge of business has improved greatly.”

IHC's IDEA Services supported employment co-ordinator Mark Stone has worked with Kerehi for three years and says the 'already confident woman” with Down syndrome has grown exponentially.

That's because she's enjoyed heading down to the store, putting on the uniform and being a part of something, says Mark.

'She's been given an opportunity and she's realised that; it's been a life experience and one she's embraced fully.”

Whether through Hell Pizza's ‘Active in Hell' programme or others similar in nature, Mark would love to see more business owners like Sandy offering opportunities like the one afforded to Kerehi. It's a view Sandy also wholeheartedly supports.

'I think many business owners want to contribute to the community but don't have the opportunity to do so. So when an opportunity like this comes your way, grab on to it and run with it,” says Sandy.

While Kerehi's message to businesses and others living with intellectual disabilities is simple. 'Just follow your heart.”