The UK Government has confirmed it will introduce “robust reforms” to assist employers in recruiting more people with disabilities.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now set to overhaul the Disability Confident scheme, which presently works with approximately 19,000 employers since its launch by the Conservatives a decade ago.
In a review published last November, the chairman of the UK Government’s Commission for Employment and Skills, Sir Charlie Mayfield, stated the scheme “lacks teeth”.
Amongst the modifications to the scheme announced last month in response to Sir Charlie’s review will be enhanced feedback from disabled people participating, and information-sharing between businesses that utilise the scheme. Small and medium-sized enterprises will also be encouraged to participate with bespoke support, ministers stated.
The DWP indicated the overhaul will help to get the more than 2.8 million people in the UK who are signed off with long-term sickness into employment , reports the Daily Record.
Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability, said: “For too long, though, it has not delivered enough support for disabled people, or for employers who want to recruit, retain and develop disabled people. That’s why we are improving the scheme, through robust reforms to ensure a better service for all, including through greater support for SMEs and improving access to resources for employers.”
Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Ensuring that the great work done by countless small businesses to support disabled employees can be captured and recognised is an important step, and we look forward to seeing how Disability Confident can be shaped in other ways to make it as relevant and useful to small firms as possible.”
James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, criticised the current scheme for its lack of impact, stating it “lacks the teeth to drive meaningful change”.
“The disability employment gap has not moved in the last 10 years of the Disability Confident scheme,” he added.
“If it is to do so, employers and government must work together. The DWP and government has significant resources at its disposal which it could be putting to far greater use in getting Britain working for disabled people.”
Diane Lightfoot, chief executive of the Business Disability Forum, welcomed the changes, saying: “The reforms to the Disability Confident scheme announced today are welcomed and much needed.”