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12 July

EFD gold group work 'absolutely vital' – Peter Hain

Work and pensions secretary Peter Hain has hailed the work of the Employers' Forum on Disability's (EFD) Gold Group members as 'absolutely vital'.

In his first public appearance as part of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet, Hain spoke of employing disabled people as a 'win-win' for business and fundamental in the fight against discrimination.

Mr Hain was speaking at EFD's annual Gold Group networking event, hosted by InterContinental Hotels Group at Park Lane, London.

EFD chairman Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail plc, also spoke at the event, saying that employing disabled people should be a priority for business, not just because it is the right thing to do but 'because it works'.

Other speakers included EFD chief executive Susan Scott-Parker and EFD associate and BBC broadcaster Peter White.

Scott-Parker spoke of EFD's gold group members as being 'at the heart' of what EFD does and encouraged them to make the most of membership of EFD's President's Group.

Peter White spoke of the 'common sense' needed when employing disabled people and when implementing rules designed to encourage their employment by business.

Other speakers

Ends

Notes to Editors

For further information on the Employers' Forum on Disability contact the Forum press office

Issy Rule
PR and communications co-ordinator
Employers' Forum on Disability press office
issy.rule@employers-forum.co.uk
020 7403 3020

For information on the Gold Group membership speak to

Ian Hastie
Head of business development
020 7403 3020
ian.hastie@employers-forum.co.uk

For information on the President's Group speak to

Catherine Grinyer
Head of communications and marketing
020 7403 3020
catherine.grinyer@employers-forum.co.uk