Employers across Lincolnshire joined Karl McCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, at a key summit in Lincoln on increasing disability employment in the region. Since 2010, over 32,000 disabled people have entered work through Work Choice -a government supported employment programme that helps people who due to their disability, may find it difficult to find or keep a job. 

The summit was one of a number of events hosted by Members of Parliament on a cross-party basis across the country to promote the Disability Confident campaign. Statistics show that disabled people are highly productive and loyal employees who take less time off sick and have fewer accidents at work than their non-disabled colleagues. Disabled people also represent 20 percent of the potential national workforce and have a combined household spending power of over £212 billion – not something employers can afford to miss out on.

Sponsored by national employment, learning and skills charity, Shaw Trust, the summit in Lincoln provided employers with the opportunity to speak about their experience of recruiting disabled employees.The employers heard from Clare Gray, Shaw Trust’s Specialist Disability Co-ordinator, who spoke about the Trust’s support services and how the charity already helps employers eager to increase the diversity of their workforce. Clare Gray is a wheelchair user with spinal muscular atrophy and has worked for Shaw Trust for over ten years. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also discussed the Access to Work scheme which pays for practical support when disabled people need help to start and stay in work or set up a new business.

The Disability Confident campaign was launched by DWP in 2013 to encourage employers to become more confident about recruiting disabled people. There has been strong support from major national employers which needs to be translated at a local level, encouraging small and medium sized businesses to sign up to the principles of the campaign. Businesses are also asked to come up with a pledge that complements the work of the Disability Confident campaign. The pledge helps employers focus on how they can make a small change that will make a big difference to the opportunities available for disabled people working in their business. By making a pledge, businesses join the growing list of Disability Confident employers. 

Karl McCartney JP MP, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, said: “It was great to learn more about how Lincolnshire employers are working closely with disabled people to offer them employment opportunities. All of the employers who attended the event signed the Disability Confident pledge, a commitment to employing more disabled people. I would urge all local businesses to do the same. “Tackling unemployment is a Government priority and I welcome the targeted specialist support offered to disabled people so they can find work. We should never be complacent about reducing unemployment and the support we offer disabled people to fulfil their career ambitions. The Disability Confident campaign is helping to break down traditional barriers that have held progress in this area back. It is clear to me that employers are increasingly aware of the talents disabled workers possess.”

Minister for Disabled People, Mark Harper, said: “It’s great that Karl McCartney MP is leading the way in supporting disabled people to find work in Lincoln. “With record employment and almost 700,000 vacancies in the economy today, employers should be making the most of the talent that exists amongst disabled people in this country. “This isn’t just about doing what’s right, it’s about recognising that diverse workplaces are stronger workplaces and that means more dynamic and stronger businesses to drive forward our economic recovery.” Roy O’Shaughnessy, Chief Executive of Shaw Trust, added:“Shaw Trust was delighted to sponsor the Disability Confident event in Lincoln. Through our work with employers across the United Kingdom we are seeing an increasing number of businesses who are committed to recruiting more disabled workers. There has been a positive culture shift among employers who recognise the benefit of a diverse workforce. The Disability Confident campaign continues to make

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