How To Become A Disability Confident Employer [2024]

Discover how to become a disability-confident employer in 2024 and why you should.

Around 23% of the work-age population lives with a disability in the UK. However, the employment rate for people with disabilities stands at 53.7% (compared to 82.7% for people without disabilities). These statistics show that employers need to do more to increase the number of disabled employees in their organisations.

One way that companies can demonstrate their commitment to inclusive recruitment and being a disability-friendly employer is through the Disability Confident Scheme. That’s precisely why we’ve prepared this guide.

In just five minutes, you’ll discover: 

• The definition of disability confident employer
• Tips for becoming a disability confident employer in the UK
• Where to find disability-confident employers as a job seeker

What Is A Disability Confident Employer?

​​A Disability Confident employer is one that has committed to the UK’s Disability Confident Scheme. By joining the scheme, the employer has pledged commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment for people with disabilities.

Related content: Let’s Talk About The Disability Employment Gap UK 

The Disability Confident Scheme Explained

The Disability Confident scheme is an initiative led by the British government. It aims to encourage employers to actively recruit job seekers with disabilities and provide them with fair working opportunities.

The scheme has three levels:

• Disability Confident Committed: At this level, employers have made a commitment to provide more opportunities to job seekers living with disabilities. This includes engaging in inclusive recruitment practices and offering reasonable adjustments to widen the talent pool.
• Disability Confident Employer: The second level of the scheme demonstrates that the employer has made additional steps to attract and retain employees with disabilities. For example, providing apprenticeships, work experience, and other initiatives.
• Disability Confident Leader: The final level recognises employers who exceed expectations when it comes to recruiting and supporting disabled employees. These companies share best practices and are thought leaders in disability inclusion. 

In order to reach and maintain each of these levels, employers must make tangible efforts. These include reasonable workplace adjustments, inclusive recruitment, and policies against disability discrimination.

Related content: List Of Disability Confident Employers UK 

How To Become A Disability Confident Employer

As we’ve seen, the Scheme has three levels. Employers must complete each of these before they can move to the next level.

Here’s an overview of the commitments you must agree to at each level:

Level 1: Disability Confident Committed

To become Disability Confident Committed, employers must agree to the following commitments. 

• inclusive recruitment practices
• advertising vacancies
• offering interviews to disabled candidates
• offering reasonable adjustments
• supporting current employees with disabilities

You must also choose at least one of the activities listed below to carry out to improve conditions for disabled employees.

• apprenticeships
• internships
• job shadowing
• paid employment
• provide work experience
• sector-based work academy placements
• student placements
• traineeships
• work trials 

When your business fulfills these commitments, you’ll receive a badge that you can add to your communications (valid for three years). As a member of the Scheme, you’ll also receive information and advice to support you on your journey.

Level 2: Disability Confident Employer

After successfully earning your Level 1 badge, your organisation can work towards becoming a Disability Confident Employer. To do this, you will need to complete an online self-assessment of your business with these two themes in mind:

• attracting the right people to your organisation
• retaining and developing your people

As a Disability Confident Employer, you showcase your willingness to go the extra mile to ensure disability inclusion in your organisation. Once you’ve completed the assessment, you’ll be registered as Disability Confident for three years.

You’ll also receive a badge and certificate that showcases your achievement and new status.

Level 3: Disability Confident Leader

At this level, you will now be a champion within your community, pioneering disability inclusion. 

To achieve this level, you will need to have your self-assessment validated by an external party and provide a story of what you’ve done to reach this status. In addition, you must confirm that you are hiring disabled people and report on disability, mental health, and well-being in your organisation.

When you have successfully provided this evidence, you’ll receive a badge and certificate which is valid for three years.

Advice For Employers

The Disability Confident Scheme is an excellent opportunity for your business to demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity. However, knowing where to start can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips to help you meet the criteria:

• Understand how the scheme works, the requirements, and actions you must take at each level
• Assess your current situation and identify where more resources, budget, or training is needed
• Get buy-in from your leadership team
• Overhaul recruitment strategies, focusing on accessibility and inclusivity
• Offer reasonable adjustments and accommodations for employees and job seekers with disabilities
• Implement flexible working options to cater for employees with different needs

One of the best ways to prepare for the scheme is to work with disability inclusion specialists, such as Careers With Disabilities. Our range of employer services can empower your organisation to meet your goals and improve disability inclusion.

Benefits Of Becoming A Disability-Confident Employer

Being Disability Confident can benefit your business in many different ways. By widening the talent pool, you create more opportunities for discovering the next great recruit.

What’s more, being a disability-confident leader allows your business to lead from the front, being instrumental in changing attitudes for the better.

Here are some of the advantages disability confident employers enjoy:

• Wider talent pool
• Higher staff retention rates
• Reduce expenses associated with staff turnover (such as training and recruitment costs)
• Boost employee morale
• Create an inclusive culture

There’s plenty of research to show that diverse teams outperform others in terms of innovation, productivity, and decision-making. As such, being Disability Confident and attracting more diverse candidates can also improve your bottom line.

Where To Find Disability-Confident Employers?

If you’re a job-seeker looking for a disability-confident employer, you’ve come to the right place.

Careers with Disabilities is the UK’s leading disability-friendly jobs board. Our aim is to connect job seekers with the top disability-confident employers in Britain.

What’s more, we believe in accessible education. That’s why we offer a resource hub for job seekers with disabilities.

You can find comprehensive guides, industry insights, and actionable advice to help you find the right inclusive employer.

Be sure to browse our blog for the latest news on recruitment, employment laws, and disability awareness.

Get In Touch

Are you an employer looking to advertise your job role on the UK’s leading disability-friendly jobs board?

Get in touch to learn more about advertising opportunities and our full range of employer services.