Raytheon UK, part of Raytheon Technologies, has become the first UK technology company in the defence and aerospace sector to join Business Disability Forum to help tackle the disability employment gap.
A 2020 TUC study on disability pay and employment gaps showed that non-disabled workers earned £2.10 (19.6%) more per hour than disabled workers in the UK. Additionally, the employment rate for disabled people was calculated at 53.7%, compared to 82% for non-disabled people.
“It’s great to see Raytheon UK taking active steps to ensure that they are disability aware; and helping to bridge the disability employment gap across the UK,” stated Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Disability, Dr Lisa Cameron MP. “More needs to be done to ensure companies throughout the country are disability-confident, and I welcome today’s announcement.”
Raytheon UK’s Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion John Dickinson described the partnership with Business Disability Forum as “an important milestone” in the company’s inclusion journey; and a “fundamental catalyst” to become a more disability-smart organisation. “We must ensure that we develop a culture that is conducive to enabling all colleagues to deliver the best work of their lives, not just the majority,” said Dickinson. “To achieve this, we must ensure that we consider people with disabilities and the adjustments required throughout the design of our physical and digital estate, our policies and processes, our end-to-end colleague lifecycle; and, of course, ensure that our leaders have the confidence and capability to support our colleagues with disabilities.”
REDUCING DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP
Raytheon UK has worked to build a more targeted approach at harnessing the unique talents of those with long-term conditions and disabilities. In 2019 the business developed a neurodiversity recruitment scheme; which recognised the need to widen its talent pool and to access the specific skills that many neurodivergent candidates bring, as part of a bespoke programme in cybersecurity.
“As a leader in the defence sector, we understand the true value that a diverse workforce has in our ability to develop innovative products and solutions for our customers,” added Raytheon UK’s Managing Director and Executive Sponsor of Raytheon UK’s Alliance for Diverse Abilities group, John Gallagher. “The skills and experiences of the disabled community are fundamentally important to our sector; and we must work together across the sector to unlock their talent and potential; and develop more meaningful opportunities to reduce the disability employment gap.”
RIGHT SUPPORT FOR DISABLED STAFF
“At Business Disability Forum, we know the importance of a supportive culture in enabling disabled people to ask for and receive the support they need. But many people tell us that they are afraid of admitting anything that could be perceived as a ‘weakness’ or even a difference,” pointed out Diane Lightfoot, Chief Executive of Business Disability Forum.
“Defence is a sector which is likely to see a higher share of acquired disabilities whether that is injury in combat, PTSD or sensory loss,” she added. “We are so pleased that Raytheon UK has become a partner of Business Disability Forum, to demonstrate and live their commitment to getting it right for disabled people; and to enable all their employees to bring their whole selves to work.”
Around one in three UK disabled workers say that they’ve been treated unfairly by their employers, according to the latest TUC poll. Click here to read more.
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