Boost to Government-run disability inclusion scheme that champions a more accessible workplace
Building materials supplier Travis Perkins has become one of the latest firms to join Disability Confident, a UK Government-run scheme which encourages companies to improve how they recruit, retain and develop employees with disabilities and long term conditions.
As part of its Disability Confident Level 1 membership, Travis Perkins has committed to ensure its recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, that adjustments are made in the workplace to accommodate colleagues with disabilities and long term health conditions, and to provide employment, workplace and training opportunities.
James Mackenzie, Managing Director of Toolstation, on Travis Perkin’s Group Leadership Team, commented: “We acknowledge that creating a more inclusive environment which celebrates and nurtures diversity will be crucial to our future success as a business and as an industry.
“Whilst we have started to put disability on our leadership agenda, joining the Disability Confident scheme will help us accelerate change by making new connections, gaining access to information, support and guidance and other activities that will help us improve.
“This is about eliminating stigma and removing the barriers that might be preventing our colleagues from realising their aspirations, so we create a workplace that is fully accessible and where everyone can thrive.”
Membership of the Disability Confident scheme follows Travis Perkins’ announcement earlier this year of its commitment to disability inclusion after joining The Valuable 500 to make the business fully accessible to colleagues, as well as customers and suppliers, with disabilities and long term health conditions.
Disability Confident was established in 2014 by The Department for Work & Pensions in order to encourage employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
It was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives to make it rigorous but easily accessible, particularly for smaller businesses.
More than 20,000 businesses have joined the Government scheme, including Ford, Sainsbury’s, Hilton and Coca-Cola.
