Inclusive cafe creates jobs at RDCS
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Published
08 October 2025
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The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS) has reached a major milestone in its drive to generate social and economic value in east London, with the creation of new jobs across the community.
One of the most striking examples is the new Dialogue Cafe, a partnership between the RDCS and Dialogue Hub that has created five new roles and established a welcoming, inclusive space on the Docklands campus.
The RDCS, part of the University of East London (UEL), is a leading hub dedicated to advancing green and digital skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Its mission is to foster collaboration between the university, industry partners, and the community, with a focus on building a sustainable and inclusive economy. Projects such as the Dialogue Cafe reflect this ambition, demonstrating how innovation and social value can work hand in hand.
Officially opened on 30 January this year, the Dialogue Cafe offers a distinctive model of inclusion. Deaf and hard-of-hearing baristas lead the operation, inviting customers to order using British Sign Language (BSL). Live interpreters and interactive guides are available to help those unfamiliar with BSL, ensuring that the experience is accessible and engaging. More than a place to buy coffee, the cafe serves as a meeting point that breaks down barriers and encourages communication and understanding.
The initiative has been supported by local partners, including the Mayor of Newham and Populo Living, and represents a collaboration that extends far beyond the University. Located within the RDCS, the cafe embodies the centre’s aim of linking skills development, employment, and community impact. It also highlights the centre’s wider commitment to ensuring that its projects contribute directly to local prosperity and opportunity.
Hakan Elbir, founder of Dialogue Cafe, described the project as “the first British Sign Language (BSL) cafe in London, and the first to open within a university campus”.
He said,
This pioneering step reflects UEL’s forward-thinking vision and commitment to inclusion. We are proud to have created five new jobs for talented deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, while also training and employing UEL students to prepare them for a diverse and inclusive business environment. Through this experience, they learn to communicate effectively with deaf and disabled colleagues and customers, gaining essential skills for their future careers.”
Seeing customers embrace British Sign Language and engage with the cafe’s team, he said, had been “incredibly rewarding”.
The success of the Dialogue Cafe underscores the RDCS’s focus on sustainable growth through partnership. By working with local leaders and employers, the centre continues to develop projects that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. In doing so, it is helping to shape a more inclusive and prosperous future for east London.