There are nearly seven million working age disabled people in the UK – but less than 50 per cent of them are currently in work. That’s a lot of talent and potential going to waste.

Disability Confident is a Government campaign which aims to change this. The partnership of employment specialists and advisors want to help employers realise that hiring disabled people is not only the right thing to do, it makes business sense.

Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson MP, launched Essex’s Be Disability Confident employer roadshow last week.

The roadshow, which will visit every district in the county over the next year, aims to engage and encourage employers across Essex to help increase the number of working age adults with disabilities in employment.

Essex County Council, in partnership with Realise Futures, North Essex University Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, JobcentrePlus and Ixion, is running the roadshow in support of the Department for Work and Pensions’ national Disability Confident campaign.

A roadshow bus will travel around Essex visiting a variety of locations, including industrial estates, shopping centres, retail parks, and the head offices of firms.

It will raise awareness of the benefits of employing a disabled adult, highlight the support available to small and medium size enterprises, and encourage employers to sign up to be disability confident.  Employment opportunities, apprenticeship, traineeships, work trials and work placement opportunities for people are just some of the options available and the partners will be on the bus to talk to businesses throughout the year.

Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, said: “Halving the disability employment gap is huge priority and we can only do this by working with employers.

“Essex County Council is leading the way by talking to local businesses about the benefits of hiring disabled people. This is at the core of our Disability Confident campaign.

“We want more people to get involved so that disabled people fulfil their potential in the workplace, boosting our growing local businesses.”

Councillor  Malcolm Maddocks, Essex County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Adults and Children, said: “Disabled people have a lot to offer employers and can play an important part in the continued economic growth of our county.

“I would encourage all 63,000 businesses across Essex to look out for the bus in their areas, watch the Be Disability Confident video and come and talk to our partners on board to find out more about the support available to help them become Disability Confident.”

Employment Minister and MP for Witham, Priti Patel added: “We’re driving change through our Disability Confident campaign, and it makes me proud Essex is the first county to host this tour bus.

For more information about the roadshow in Essex, visit essex.gov.uk/bedisability confident 

 

Tour bus dates

The Be Disability Confident roadshow will be at these industrial estates over the coming months:
*March Southfields, Laindon Yardley, Basildon, Pipps Hill, Basildon
* April Burnt Mills, Basildon Charfleets, Canvey Island Manor Trading, Benfleet Rayleigh Weir, Rayleigh
*May Aviation Way, Southend Purdeys, Rochford Wickford West Horndon, Brentwood