Mencap, the learning disability charity, and Inclusive Employers have issued a lobbying pack, allowing employees across the country to challenge their employer to adopt a more diverse recruitment policy as part of Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week.
The pack, downloadable from Mencap’s website, details the benefits of employing people with a learning disability and advice on how an employer can adopt a more inclusive employment strategy.
Currently there are just 7% of people with a disability in paid employment. This is despite research suggesting 77% of the public think more highly of companies who employ people with a disability and proven lower sickness rates and higher job satisfaction for employees with a learning disability.
The Social Market Foundation also estimates that raising disability employment to the national average would boost the UK economy by at least £13 billion.
Since last year’s successful Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week a range of new companies have signed up to the 2014 event, which runs from 10 – 16 November. Companies who wish to sign up can visit the Mencap Work Experience Week page here.
Richard McKenna of Inclusive Employers said:
“Developing an inclusive and rewarding environment for all individuals is at the heart of everything we do. Inclusive Employers initiatives such as Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week allows us to make companies aware of the social and commercial benefit of employing people with a disability, and gives our members new perspectives on inclusion and opportunities to harness different talent. Working with Mencap has allowed us to create workplace cultures where all people are valued equally and where all people can add value.”
“We were delighted that Learning Disability Work Experience Week 2013 was so successful and we hope this year will have greater impact.”
Mark Capper, Business Development Manager, at Mencap said:
“With only 7% of people with a learning disability in paid work, more must be done to help increase opportunities to develop work skills and aid with the progression into employment. People with a learning disability have an equal right to work as anyone else. The companies we have worked with realise this and are also beginning to realise that offering work placements to people with a learning disability does not only help the individual, but can be profitable for their business as well.”
Last year saw the first ever Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week which saw the likes of McDonald’s, the House of Commons, South West Trains, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Strudel Design and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service all receive industry awards in recognition of their inclusive employment strategies, and this year a new host of employers have signed up to the campaign, including the British Red Cross and Land Securities.
Anna Chapman, at Land Securities said:
“We are very pleased to be offering placements during Work Experience Week as part of our partnership with Mencap and Enable Scotland. We are also thrilled that our supply chain partners are so keen to be involved too. Helping disadvantaged people into jobs not only helps the communities in which we operate, but also creates a more diverse, representative workforce which can serve our customers better.”
Katrina Tilbrook, Equality & Diversity Manager, Leeds Becket University and CommUNIty said:
“Leeds Beckett University is committed to providing fair and inclusive employment opportunities. We are incredibly proud to be part of Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week 2014. The campaign complements our CommUNity initiative, which promotes joint working between our university and community organisations with a view to help reduce inequalities and improve health and well-being within our community. Someone with a learning disability who Mencap supports will join our Equality & Diversity team for the week, attending advisory groups and meeting as well as providing administrative support. We look forward to future collaborations.”
Terry Eagle, a franchise holder at McDonalds said:
“Work experience is a great way for people to build confidence and get a taste of what working life is like.
“I currently employ more than 480 people across six restaurants in the South London area and our restaurants offer jobs with a culture of flexibility, opportunity, equality and development. Our customers come from all walks of life and it’s important to us that our employees do too. Providing equal opportunities for people from all backgrounds is key to our company ethos.”
Andy, who has a learning disability and lives with his mum, Sheila, benefited from Mencap support to get his first job.
Andy’s mum, Sheila, recalls:
“He was out of work for nearly four years; it was terrible. He was getting more and more depressed – some days he couldn’t even get out of bed. He was failing to receive the support he needed despite me keep telling employers about his learning disability.
Luckily Sheila remembered Mencap had helped Andy get his first job and she supported him to get back in touch:
“It was such a relief to have someone finally listening. The change in Andy was almost instant. One minute he was a man with no hope, the next he was full of hope.”