Business Disability Forum (BDF) has launched a range of free disability inclusion resources for the UK’s small- and medium-sized business community (SMEs).
The resources offer advice on how to attract and retain disabled employees and how to welcome in disabled customers. BDF believes that it is important for all businesses to recognise the benefits that disabled people bring to their organisation. One in five people in the UK have a disability; and disabled people often experience barriers both in the workplace and as consumers.
“We know that this is a difficult time for many smaller business owners as they face many competing pressures,” stated Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum. “ We hope the practical and easy to action advice in our SME toolkit will help businesses attract and retain skilled and valuable staff.”
She also hopes it will help businesses to broaden their customer base by better serving the needs of disabled consumers.
SME DISABILITY TOOLKIT
The SME Toolkit provides guidance specifically for smaller firms and start-ups on how to meet the needs of disabled people.
Funded by The City Bridge Trust, the areas covered in the Toolkit include:
- · How to create an inclusive workplace
- · Interviewing disabled candidates
- · Reasonable adjustments: What they are and why they are important
- · Selling products to disabled customers online
- · Making your website accessible
- · Making your premises accessible
- · Offering great customer service
“We hope this toolkit proves to be a useful resource that helps SMEs to recruit and retain the great talent and skills found within the disabled community, whilst also helping them to better serve their disabled customers,” shared James Lee, Programme Manager at The City Bridge Trust. “We are sure that its impact will be felt far and wide.”
You can download the SME Toolkit from the Business Disability Forum’s Knowledge Hub.
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