Forties People

Businesses should take advantage of the increasing pool of highly skilled, technically literate talent from within the disabled community.

Currently in the UK, there are 1.2 million disabled people who are available for, and want to work*. However unfortunately, there are still some businesses that continue to discriminate on the grounds of sex, race, marital status, religion, national origin and disability, and the number of claims has risen by 15% year-on-year**.

Close to 60% of businesses that employ from a diverse range of talent and skill-sets believe that it has contributed positively to their bottom line. In these turbulent times, if people are buying goods and services from anyone, you want to give them as many good reasons as possible to buy from you.

Business reasons for employing disabled people

Ultimately, you employ people who are going to help your business grow to where you want it to be, and there are sound business reasons for employing disabled people –

• It opens up the pool of available talent by many tens of thousands of people giving you the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job.
• A more diverse workforce means a more diverse customer base.
• To become known as an inclusive, caring employer will enhance your reputation both in your industry and the wider community.
• You will improve both staff morale and loyalty, therefore improving productivity. Employees are far more likely to put in the extra effort for an employer who puts their needs first.

Funding and support for employers recruiting disabled people

Forties People can help and advise employers to take advantage of the support and funding provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in relation to employment, policy and retention of disabled workers.

• Have a chat with a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA). They will give you the basics of what you need to know going forward.
• The DWP’s Employ ability initiative will give you practical advice on the employment of disabled people and those with long-term health issues.
• The Job Introduction Scheme (JIS) can offer a weekly grant to put towards the employment or training costs for the first six weeks of employing a disabled person.
• Access to Work (AtW) contributes towards the additional costs you’re likely to incur when employing a disabled person. In addition, the scheme may give you a grant of up to 100% of the approved costs of someone starting with you.
• WORKSTEP is a tailored package designed to help employers whose disabled employees needs are more complex.

Speak to Forties People for further information. Click here to contact us.

*Source: Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey, Oct - Dec 2007

**Source: Employment Tribunal Service, annual employment tribunal statistics for 2006/07 (1st April to 31st March).