The Toolkit offers employers innovative and practical approaches to retaining disabled employees and is the most comprehensive and current resource on the topic that is available.
Sponsored by Ingeus, a leading provider of employability programmes, the Toolkit features more than 80 case studies and best practice examples from across BDF's membership that comprises close to 20% of the total UK workforce.
BDF is also pleased to provide employers with a Retention Maturity Model, which offers a systematic approach for helping employers move from ‘where do we start?’ to ‘how do we embed best practice in retention?’
George Selvanera, Director of Strategy and External Affairs at BDF launched the Toolkit at the conference.
George said:
"We have ever more employees who need adjustments because of disability, health conditions and the processes of ageing. By 2020, more than 1 in 3 employees will be aged 50 years or more. Getting it right for these employees is the right thing to do, but it’s more than that: it is a commercial imperative for UK PLC. We are so pleased to have worked with leading businesses including EY, Royal Mail and Lloyds Banking Group to produce this toolkit of case studies and best practice guidance and to provide a tool to help employers prioritise what steps to take in becoming more disability-smart."
The conference also saw HR, recruitment, diversity and inclusion professionals from more than 90 private and public sector employers come together to network and gain insights from a variety of high-profile speakers. The event was opened by Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, who shared more about the government's ambitions to reduce the gap between employed disabled and non-disabled people by half.
Delegates also gained perspectives from Dr Nasser Siabi, CEO of Microlink, Jules Lockett, Practice Learning Manager at London Ambulance Service and Claire Harvey, Paralympian and Senior Inclusive Leadership Consultant at KPMG.
In delivering her keynote speech, Claire discussed the importance of dispelling the myths surrounding disabled employees and overcoming both the real and perceived barriers to ensure disabled employees can truly flourish in the workplace.
Speaking about the conference, David Goodchild, Joint Interim CEO at BDF said:
"Our annual conference presents the perfect opportunity for BDF to further engage with its disability-smart membership organisations.
"We were delighted to have been joined by so many respected speakers, exhibitors and delegates and would like to thank them and our conference sponsors Microlink and Ingeus for their valuable support.
"We look forward to delivering our extensive events programme and to continue working closely with our membership organisations towards the mutual benefit of business and disabled people."
For more information about the Retention Toolkit and Maturity Model or to enquire about receiving a copy, please email enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk or call 020-7403-3020.
