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Media Release Thursday 9th October

Leading corporations setting the standard on disability as a business priority

The Employers' Forum on Disability today announces the results of this year's Global Inclusion Benchmark, sponsored by disability insurer, UnumProvident. The Benchmark, piloted last year, examines how companies communicate their commitment to disabled people in their social reports, providing a unique insight into the extent to which some of the world's leading corporations now address disability.

The Benchmark identifies ten key areas where companies should report on disability within their social reports. Sixty eight social reports were analysed with quality assurance by AccountAbility. This year's findings provide compelling evidence that disability is moving up the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda. Nonetheless, only 9% of leading companies reported on disability as part of their CSR strategy.

The findings show that of the reports examined:

33% of companies demonstrate a real commitment to disabled people in their social reports compared to only 20% of reports last year.
66% include disability in their equal opportunities or diversity policy.
59% report on programmes to improve recruitment, retention and career development prospects for disabled people.
However, only 40% of companies report on what they have done to improve their products and services for disabled customers.
And only 22% of companies report that they are listening to the concerns of their disabled stakeholders - employees, customers, community members and suppliers.

The top ten companies, ranked on the Employers' Forum on Disability Global Inclusion Benchmark criteria are:

BT
Centrica
The Co-operative Bank
Abbey National
CIS Co-operative Insurance
BAA
Kingfisher
Aviva
Novo Nordisk
Barclays

Ben Verwaayen, Chief Executive of BT Group says:

“At BT, we understand the contribution made by disabled people to our society and our economy as employees, customers, suppliers, business owners and investors.

“Sustainable businesses must take account of the needs of all their stakeholders. In BT we apply audit standards to review how we do this and we are able to communicate our business strategy in an important and growing market place.

“Hopefully, the example set by the Benchmark's top ten will be followed by more and more businesses taking up this challenge.”

It is worth noting that many of the top performers in the Benchmark are members of the Forum, the first business to business network to address disability from the perspective of the employer and service provider.

Ends

Download the Global Inclusion Benchmark report PDF (340KB)

For further information, please contact the Press Office

Employers' Forum on Disability
Telephone: 020 7089 3020
Email: media@employers-forum.co.uk

Notes to editors:

Employers' Forum on Disabilityis the authoritative employers' voice on disability as it affects business. Its members represent over 380 major organisations that currently employ more than 20 per cent of the UK workforce. The Forum works closely with disabled people, government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier for business to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

UnumProvident is a UK leading provider of group income protection insurance, with over 42%* of the market. Our critical illness and life insurance products enable our customers to purchase complementary protection solutions that together make a comprehensive package. *Source: GE Frankona Re 2003

AccountAbility's mission is to promote accountability for sustainable development. As a leading international professional institute, AccountAbility provides effective assurance and accountability management tools and standards through its AA1000 Series, offers professional development and certification, and undertakes leading-edge research and related public policy advocacy. AccountAbility has embraced an innovative, multi-stakeholder governance model, enabling the direct participation of its organisational and individual members who span business, civil society organisations, and the public sector from different countries across the world. For further information visit: www.accountability.org.uk or contact Paul Taylor, Communications & PR, on 07966 782611.

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