Large and small businesses who have carried out exceptional work
in hiring, retaining and supporting disabled people in the
workplace have been recognised in the annual Disability Confident
Awards in London.
Judged by DWP's Disability Confident team, winners were chosen
from a wide selection of strong nominations ranging from tech
companies developing accessible equipment to a heritage trust
breaking down barriers for disabled people.
The two winners, chosen for their work in the travel industry and
fitness sector, were:
- Small organisation winner (less than 250 employees) - Seable,
a bespoke travel agent who provide experiences for people who are
visually impaired. The company hires blind and partially sighted
people who share their lived experiences, so holidays reflect the
needs of their customers.
- Big organisation winner (More than 250 employees) - The Gym
Group, who run schemes such as the Inclusive Traineeship which
helps disabled people in the workplace with dedicated support
staff and programmes to help them break into the fitness
industry.
The Disability Confident scheme is a Government
initiative designed to encourage employers to recruit, retain,
and develop disabled people. It has more than 19,000 members,
with more than 12 million employees working in their businesses.
To become a Disability Confident employer,
organisations must provide accessible and inclusive
recruitment practices and a public commitment to supporting
employees with a disability. These also signal to disabled
jobseekers which companies may be suitable for their needs.
Minister for Social Security and Disabled People, Sir
, said:
“It has been great to see so many organisations leading by
example to support disabled employees in the workplace. I
congratulate everyone who has been nominated.
“The standard of the nominations for each category have been
outstanding and it was difficult to select the finalists and
winners who have all showed inspiring best practice to help other
employers to start their Disability Confident journey.”
A Seable spokesperson said:
“We're incredibly proud to win the Disability Confident Award.
“We are dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible travel
experiences for the visually impaired community and reinforces
our mission to break down barriers within the travel industry and
champion true inclusivity in everything we do.”
The Disability Confident scheme helps businesses make a first
step towards making their workplaces more suitable for disabled
employees. These start with companies making commitments to
support disabled people in the workplace which can include making
sure recruitment processes are accessible, offering work
experience, and providing reasonable adjustments for existing
employees.
