Who We Are

Landau is a supported employment and training charity that transform over 800 lives a year across the West Midlands by providing routes to employment, access to learning, social enterprise help and support for personal growth.

Every day, people face difficult circumstances, they battle with bereavement, breakdowns, poverty, mental health, childcare responsibilities, illness, lack of confidence and learning barriers that prevent them from engaging in employment or education. We bring hope to these individuals and local communities through intensive support plans, accredited and non-accredited learning, voluntary/employment placements and Individual Placement Support IPS (1-2-1).

Landau has worked in partnership with statutory organizations to deliver European programmes. The majority of our funding is through the successful delivery of supported employment and training contracts

Our Vision

Our vision is that every disabled and disadvantaged person has the opportunity to work and fulfil their potential.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide individuals with high quality, tailored support to enable them to overcome obstacles to fulfilling their potential in society.

We are Led by

Sonia Roberts

CEO

Sonia spent 20 years in the fashion industry in high profile roles, both UK and globally. She left the industry to become involved in the voluntary sector initially with Young Enterprise, mentoring and supporting young people to develop entrepreneurial and business skills. Sonia became Charity Manager in 2003 and has chaired the VCSA, Shropshire Disability Network and Shropshire Providers Consortium.

Sonia sits on a number of boards across the West Midlands. She was appointed the Paul Harris Fellowship by her peers in 2013.

Sonia has an MSc in Business Management and a Diploma in Public Service Leadership. She is actively involved in fundraising for a range of other charities and organisations both locally and internationally.

Our Board of Trustees

Derek Langford
Trustee Since 1995

Derek became involved with Landau as we supported his son who has a learning disability. An engineer who worked in blue-chip companies at a senior management role who then moved into management consultancy prior to operating his own company. This was developed it into a going concern until selling after which he returned to management consultancy working in a wide range of business sectors but mainly in the food industry..

Mike Shields
Trustee Since 2005

Left School in 1970 and joined Nat West Bank. Moved to TSB Bank in 1980 and stayed with them for 8 years to Branch Manager level. From there Mike moved into local government economic development with Shropshire Council in 1988 staying until 2006 following a 4-year secondment to Business Link.

Between 2006 and 2012 was a self-employed Business Advisor for 6 years working for Business Link, Herefordshire Council and a range of private sector clients and then joined Wolverhampton City Council Economic Development team in 2012. in 2017 moved to the University of Wolverhampton to project manage a European funded programme supporting innovation in business. Ex-member of MENSA.

Voluntary interests 1990 to 2008 Chair of Young Enterprise Shropshire Board, Chair of Young Enterprise West Midlands Regional Board and member of Young Enterprise National Board

Hilary Oliver
Trustee Since 2013

Hilary has been with the charity since it’s inception. She started as Finance Officer, a post she held for over 14 years, thanks to her personable nature she later became HR Officer. Prior to Landau Hilary worked in Accounts for 10 years, was a playgroup leader for 5 years and spent 8 years with British Gas in a number of different roles including Accounts and Customer Service.

Marcelle Kite
Trustee Since 1996

Marcelle is a former further education lecturer and early years’ professional who established and ran a children’s nursery for over 25 years. Voluntary interests include running a Bread Church, distance walking for charity, qualified sailing instructor and volunteer Debt Coach for Christians Against Poverty.