This event will examine what you can do to recruit, retain and support disabled people in meaningful employment.

New funding will enable more disabled people to move into work

Disabled people make up 20% of Scotland’s population, but only 11% of the workforce. Moreover, the disability employment rate is just 43%, compared to 80% for non-disabled people.

The Scottish Government are committed to halving the disability employment gap announcing £1 million funding to close the disability employment gap in April 2018. They have already implemented a broad range of actions to reduce barriers, tackle inequalities and help disabled people secure equal enjoyment of rights, with this funding building on A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, published in 2016.

Furthermore, in May, the Government launched a consultation -  Increasing the Employment of Disabled People in the Public Sector - expressing that the public sector must find avenues to support more disabled people into sustainable and fair work.

The benefits of a diverse workforce are huge, so how do we redress this imbalance, encourage employers to support disabled people in the workplace and ensure they have access to accurate advice and support in the recruitment process?

Join us on 20 September as we consider the priorities and ambitions for closing the disability employment gap.

Confirmed Speakers: 

• Bridget Sly, Head of Disability Employment Team, The Scottish Government
• Senga Cree, National Lead, Health & Work Support Pilot, The Scottish Government
• Heather Fisken, Manager, Independent Living in Scotland (part of Inclusion Scotland)
• Lillian Boyd, Head of Employer Services, Remploy
• Elaine Urquhart, Chief Operating Officer, Microlink 
• Joan Cairney, Programme Manager, Borders College

Key issues we’ll examine with you

• Examining the progress of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People and the ambitions of the Scottish Government going forward. 
• The visibility of disability in the workplace
• How to create inclusive recruitment processes
• Understanding how to support and retain individuals in the workplace
• Creating a positive attitude and a greater understanding of the value of recruiting disabled people to employers across all sectors
• Improving our understanding of workplace discrimination, prejudice and barriers faced by disabled people.

Agenda*

09:30    Registration and Refreshments

10:00    Welcome and Introduction from Chair

Jamie Szymkowiak, Founder, One in Five

10:10  Session 1: Understanding the Disability Employment Gap

10:10 Halving The Disability Employment Gap: Developing an All-Scotland Approach

This session will outline the work being undertaken by Scottish Government to develop a Disability Employment Action Plan to support its ambition to at least halve the disability employment gap. Emerging policy priorities will be explored, as will the challenges of ensuring collective leadership on the this issue acrosss sectors.

Bridget Sly, Head of Disability Employment Team, Scottish Government

10:30 Situations Vacant

A view from disabled people –

• What are the causes and impact of the disability employment gap
• What changes are needed to policy and practise

Heather Fisken, Manager, Independent Living in Scotland (part of Inclusion Scotland)

10.50   Questions and Comments

11.10    Refreshments and Networking

11:35  Session 2: Recruiting, Supporting and Retaining Disabled People in the Workplace

• Working with employers and partner organisations
• The visibility of disability in the workplace
• Inclusive recruitment processes
• Creating a positive attitude and greater understanding amongst employers across all sectors towards disabled people and their potential as employees
• Improved awareness and understanding of workplace discrimination, prejudice and barriers to employment faced by disabled people

Lillian Boyd, Head of Employer Service, Remploy

Elaine Urquhart, Chief Operating Officer, Microlink

12:15 Health & Work Support Pilot-Fife and Dundee 

Senga Cree, National Lead, Health & Work Support Pilot, The Scottish Government

12.55    Lunch and Networking

13:50  Session 3: Sharing and Learning from Good Practice 

Examples of existing good practice surrounding work to tackle the disability employment gap including the perspective of both employers and disabled people

13:50 Sharing Good Practice

• Work experience at Borders College
• Project Search Borders
• Partnership working

Joan Cairney, Programme Manager, Borders College

14:10 Alistair Kerr, Director of Partnerships, Shaw Trust Scotland and Chair, BASE Scotland 

14.30   Questions and Discussion

14.50    Closing Remarks from Chair

15.00    Close of Event

*Agenda subject to change

Venue

Costs