Disability Confident: Join the journey

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In Shifting Demographics
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ManpowerGroup challenges perceptions of talent with disabilities to unleash full potential
While a growing number of employers recognise the benefits of creating a more diverse workforce, those with disabilities continue to face considerable challenges when it comes to securing and remaining in employment.

Organisations with inclusive cultures have 39% higher customer satisfaction, 22% greater productivity and 27% higher profitability than those that are not inclusive. Yet despite the benefits of taking an inclusive approach to talent, research from the Centre of Social Justice found that just one-third of HR decision makers have hired a person with a disability in the last year.

ManpowerGroup is proud to represent the recruitment industry on the Disability Confident Business Leaders’ Group. Disability Confident is a government scheme that aims to get one million more disabled people into employment. It is designed to help organisations recruit and retain disabled people, by providing a framework that challenges perceptions about disabilities and helps organisations build programmes to support a greater number of disabled people into work.

Richard Elliot, HR Manager at ManpowerGroup, said: “As an organisation, we make it our priority to enable all people to participate in the workplace and achieve their full potential. More than 5,000 UK employers have signed up to Disability Confident, and as part of the Business Leaders’ Group, we’re proud of the role we play in helping that number continue to grow.

“As well as supporting organisations that are beginning their Disability Confident journey, we’ve also used this scheme as a springboard to reinforce our own commitment to helping those with disabilities. We’re using the Disability Confident framework and working towards achieving Level 3 status – Disability Confident Leader – by the end of the first quarter of 2018.

“Each year we partner with Blind Cricket England and Wales to organise an annual visually impaired cricket match which raises awareness of the abilities of disabled people as valuable employees. What’s more, this year, we’re partnering with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to provide work placements to a number of visually impaired individuals. These placements are designed to increase their work experience and confidence in the workplace, while also expanding our own experience, knowledge and understanding of how ManpowerGroup can help find meaningful paid work for an increased number of disabled people.”

ManpowerGroup is on a journey that has only just begun. There’s so much more that can be done, and we have a genuine desire to affect change. We believe that meaningful and sustainable employment has the power to change the world, and nurturing diversity through Disability Confident is just one of the ways we hope to achieve this.

To play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better, sign up to Disability Confident at: disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk

This article first appeared in the eighth edition of The Human Age Newspaper.