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5 September
Challenging employers' assumptions – EFD welcomes DWP's 'Employ ability' campaign
Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) welcomes the launch of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) 'Employ ability' campaign, in the north of England today.
'Employ ability' aims to challenge views on disabled people in the workplace. There will be adverts in newspapers, on poster sites, in buses and taxis, and on telephone boxes in Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool.
The campaign's aim is to give out the message that a disabled person applying for a job is just as likely to be the right person for the role as a non-disabled candidate.
EFD chief executive Susan Scott-Parker said: “We are pleased to support this DWP awareness campaign.
“Research shows that twenty per cent of the population believe that disabled people cannot be as effective at work as their non-disabled colleagues.
“In fact, many disabled people are skilled, capable and productive and bring unique insights to the workplace.
“EFD members believe that it is unacceptable to exclude people from work simply because they have a disability.
“Employers who concentrate on candidates' abilities, rather than their disability or health condition, increase their available talent pool and benefit from improved recruitment practices. It has also been shown that they develop more innovative and sustainable work practices for everybody.”
More information on the campaign can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/employability
Ends
Issy RulePR & Communications Coordinator
Employers' Forum on Disability press office
Email: issy.rule@employers-forum.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
1. Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ circa 25 per cent of the UK workforce. EFD is recognised as the authoritative voice on disability as it affects employers and service providers. Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers. A full list of EFD's gold group and further information on EFD can be viewed on our web site.
2. 'Employ ability' media enquiries:
Helen Makinson,DWP Yorkshire & Humber Regional Press Office.
Telephone: 0113 232 4593
Mobile: 07771 942807