Disability-Confident Leaders: Our Top 5 Picks

The number of disability-confident leader employers is increasing day by day in the UK. This is great news for job seekers with disabilities as it creates space for truly equal and fair employment opportunities for all. 

The disability employment gap in the UK isn’t spoken about enough. Figures show that the employment gap is at its widest since 2018. Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that the disability employment rate for the period July to September 2022 was 52.6%. In contrast, it was 82.5% for non-disabled people during the same time period. This is simply not good enough.

Nevertheless, more and more organisations are joining the Disability Confident Scheme and making a commitment to turning these numbers around. These disability-confident employers are paving the way to a level playing field for all employees.  The goal is to provide an inclusive working environment where everyone gets the opportunity to succeed.

In this blog, we take a look at some of the top disability-confident leaders in the UK who are working to close the disability employment gap.

What is a Disability-Confident Leader?

First things first, let us just clarify exactly what a disability-confident leader is and the relevance it has towards closing the disability employment gap.

The Disability Confident Scheme is a government scheme that encourages businesses to become more disability-friendly. There are over 20,000 UK businesses registered with the scheme, with new businesses joining every day. The scheme is voluntary and access to guidance, good practice and resources are completely free. The Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to their workplace.

The Disability Confident scheme has three levels of support to see employers through every stage of the journey to becoming disability-inclusive. The scheme consists of 3 different levels which employers must complete in order. 

The 3 levels are as follows:

• Level 1 – Disability Confident Committed
• Level 2 – Disability Confident Employer
• Level 3 – Disability Confident Leader

Today’s blog will focus on the Level 3 – Disability Confident Leaders who act as champions within the local and business communities. These employers play an important role in encouraging and supporting other businesses to become Disability Confident.

Becoming a Disability-Confident Leader

To become a Disability Confident Leader, your business will need to:

• Complete Levels 1 and 2 of the Disability Confident Scheme
• Have someone outside of your business validate your self-assessment
• Provide a short narrative to show what your business has done or will be doing to support your status as a Disability Confident Leader
• Confirm you are employing disabled people

Our Top 5 Disability-Confident Leaders

Here’s our shortlist of the UK’s top disability-confident leaders who are setting an example for other organisations to follow.

ITV 

ITV is accredited with the Disability Confident ‘Leader’ status, demonstrating its continued commitment to championing opportunities and removing barriers for disabled candidates. Their Diversity Acceleration Plan shows their commitment to increasing the representation of disabled people both on and off-screen at every level. It includes targets to improve the career opportunities for disabled talent working on ITV programmes and to ensure there are entry-level career opportunities available for them.

ITV’s internal colleague network, ITV Able, is focused on disability and aims to educate, influence, and connect employees on the issues and support available. ITV has partnered with the disability equality charity Scope, with a campaign to raise awareness of hidden disabilities.  

Sainsbury’s 

Sainsbury’s achieved its Disability Confident ‘Leader’ status in 2017. They are by far the largest retailer to achieve this accreditation. In 2008, Sainsbury’s launched the You Can initiative, which supports people who otherwise might struggle to find a job, including those with disabilities. Since its launch, this initiative has helped 26,000 people find employment with Sainsbury’s. 

The retail giant has also been the headline sponsor of Purple Tuesday. This initiative encourages retailers to be more inclusive and accessible. The aim is to raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities may face, especially those with more ‘hidden’ disabilities. 

Network Rail  

As a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, Network Rail has gained recognition within its peer group of organisations for its efforts to embrace differences. They’re keen to show potential candidates with disabilities that they’re leading the way in promoting Disability Confidence. The company is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment where barriers are broken and stereotypes and prejudice are lessened. 

Their Employee Network CanDo celebrates and supports their disabled employees. More than 740 members have joined since its launch in 2014 and membership has increased by 70% since 2018. As well as this, Network Rail also has six employee networks which contribute to a more open, inclusive and diverse organisation.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) are proud to continue their disability-confident status as Level 3 Leaders for another period of three years. CCEP believe that employing diverse talent brings huge benefits to their business. As a result, the company wants to do everything it can to give people with a disability the confidence to apply for any position they want at CCEP.

As well as being part of the Disability Confident Scheme, it’s also part of another global disability initiative called The Valuable 500. This initiative encourages major businesses to recognise the value of the 1.3 billion disabled people in the world.

Lloyds Banking Group 

The Business Disability Forum has recognised Lloyds Banking Group as a leading employer of people with disabilities for several years. The bank’s Workplace Adjustment Programme is a ground-breaking initiative that has offered support to thousands of workers. Lloyds have completed over 31,000 assessments for colleagues with disabilities and/ or long-term health conditions. These assessments help recommend what adjustments they may require to remove any barriers and support them to be their best. 

Lloyds Banking Group has an award-winning colleague network, which has over 3,000 members. It works towards connecting, supporting, and developing colleagues with disabilities and long-term health conditions across their branches.

In Closing 

The UK is making strides in disability inclusion thanks to the Disability Confident scheme. As showcased here, leading employers like ITV, Sainsbury’s, Network Rail, Coca-Cola, and Lloyds Bank are setting the benchmark. Through supportive policies, workplace adjustments and inclusive cultures, these leaders are helping to close the disability employment gap. Their efforts demonstrate that disability confidence is achievable and will hopefully motivate more employers to follow their example. With more disability-confident leaders, true equality of opportunity is within reach.

Are you an employer looking to become more inclusive and disability confident? Our resource hub is packed with support and guidance on everything from supporting employees to job ad inclusivity screening.

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