The UK Government have announced an overhaul to the Disability Confident Scheme, to help employers recruit and retain disabled people, with new standards to improve scheme for employer and employees that will be shaped by the voices of disabled people.
The Disability Confident scheme, launched by the previous UK Government in 2016, has delivered huge variations of support across different UK regions, often overlooking specific local needs and priorities.
This overhaul will involve trialling reforms through employers, alongside the work taking place in the Keep Britain Working Review Vanguards, such as:
- The Disability Confident scheme has three levels of commitment – the overhaul will reduce the time employers can remain at the entry level from three years to two and removing the option for them to renew at this level to encourage employers to progress up the scheme.
- Tailoring support for SMEs to their needs and capabilities, so that businesses of all sizes can benefit.
- Connecting employers together so that they can access peer-to-peer support and share good practice, with practical resources so that they can tap into the scheme’s full potential.
- Reflecting the views and voices of disabled people throughout the scheme so that guidance reflects real experiences.
The reforms are aimed at making employers’ experience on the scheme more meaningful and more impactful on their organisations, incentivising them to progress their Disability Confident status and make their workplaces inclusive of disabled talent.
For further information please select the following link: Disability Confident scheme overhauled to boost workplace standards for disabled people - GOV.UK.