Remploy, the UK’s leading provider of disability employment services, is marking International Day of Disabled People (IDDP) on 3 December with a call to employers to increase the number of disabled people in work.
The company, which has more than 60 branches and offices across Britain, is using IDDP to highlight its backing for the Government’s ‘Disability Confident’ campaign to change employer attitudes and show that employing a disabled person is much easier than many believe.
And to further help build disability confidence, Remploy is also launching an online quiz, which combines a fun competition with the serious aim of identifying areas where it can help employers develop skills and understanding of disability employment.
“Helping employers become ‘Disability Confident’ is crucial to increasing employment rates for disabled people, which currently stands at about 49 per cent compared to 77 per cent for non-disabled people,” said Beth Carruthers, Remploy’s director of Employment Services.
“Many employers understand that employing disabled people delivers real social and economic value for business. However, for those who still believe that it is simply too difficult, our aim is to help them remove barriers, increase understanding and ensure that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise aspirations.”
Ms Carruthers added: “International Day of Disabled People is celebrated all over the world and is dedicated to promoting the abilities of disabled people. There couldn’t be a more appropriate time to build upon the Government’s employer campaign to spread the message about ‘Disability Confident’. Equality in the workplace is good for disabled people and good for business. But it’s also good for the country as a whole. If disabled people’s employment rate matched that of the rest of the population an extra two million people would be in work.”
Nationally, Remploy operates more than 60 branches and offices, providing tailored support for disabled jobseekers, including building confidence and self-esteem, offering advice on interview techniques and help building a CV that highlights their skills to employers.
Last year, Remploy’s partnerships with many of Britain’s biggest employers helped it find almost 18,000 jobs for disabled and disadvantaged people, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous 12 months.
For more information about ‘Disability Confident’ visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employing-disabled-people-and-people-with-health-conditions/employing-disabled-people-and-people-with-health-conditions