Sick and disabled people will have more opportunities to move into work following the overhaul of a scheme that will boost living standards and workplace inclusion.
The Disability Confident scheme – launched by the previous government in 2016 – has delivered huge variations of support across different UK regions, often overlooking specific local needs and priorities.
While around two thirds of employers agree that joining the scheme had a positive impact on their organisation, the landmark Keep Britain Working review by Sir Charlie Mayfield concluded that while it has many positive aspects it “lacks teeth”.
In response to the review, the Government is taking action to prevent ill-health, support people to stay in work, and help employers build healthier, more resilient workplaces. Overhauling the Disability Confident scheme is a key part of this.
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This will involve trialling reforms through employers, alongside the work taking place in the Keep Britain Working Review Vanguards, such as reducing the time employers can remain at the entry level from three years to two, and removing the option for them to renew at this level to encourage employers to progress up the scheme.
It will also involve tailoring support for SMEs to their needs and capabilities, so that businesses of all sizes can benefit, as well as connecting employers together so that they can access peer-to-peer support and share good practice, with practical resources so that they can tap into the scheme’s full potential.
The reforms are aimed at making employers’ experience on the scheme more meaningful and more impactful on their organisations, incentivising them to progress their Disability Confident status and make their workplaces inclusive of disabled talent.
This will improve the employment outcomes of disabled people across the country, boosting living standards and helping to get the more than 2.8 million people signed off long-term sick in the UK into secure employment.
Around 19,000 employers are signed up to the current Disability Confident scheme, benefitting an estimated 11 million paid employees in their organisations. By improving the offer to employers, the reformed scheme has the potential to benefit even more employees.
“That’s why we are improving the scheme, through robust reforms to ensure a better service for all, including through greater support for SMEs and improving access to resources for employers.
“This comes alongside our investment of £1 billion a year in employment support by the end of the decade, and our Connect to Work programme which will help 300,000 sick or disabled people into work by the end of the parliament.”
The Business Disability Forum (BDF) says that it welcomes Government plans to create a more robust and evidence-based Disability Confident Scheme announced today.
BDF’s CEO, Diane Lightfoot, is also Vice-chair of the Disability Confident Business Group, which brings together Disability Confident employers from a range of sectors and industries to share good practice.
Speaking about the reforms announced, Diane said: “In concept, the Disability Confident Scheme is world-leading, but, in practice, there is huge variation in how it is applied and how employers are checked and verified. Business Disability Forum has long called for an overhaul of the scheme to resolve these issues and to make it effective in increasing the number of disabled people in employment.
“One in four people in the UK has a disability, yet the number of disabled people in work remains woefully low and has moved little since the introduction of the scheme in November 2016.
“The reforms to the Disability Confident Scheme announced today are welcomed and much needed. We are pleased to see that the Government has taken on board many of our recommendations to help create a scheme that is more robust and consistent and whereby employers are required to evidence the progress they have made in recruiting and retaining disabled employees.
“We look forward to seeing more detail on the planned changes and to working with employers and the Government to ensure the Disability Confident Scheme is an effective tool for shifting the dial on disability employment.”
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https://thiis.co.uk/disability-confident-scheme-overhauled-to-boost-workplace-standards-for-disabled-people/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-marcus-aurelius-wheelchair-user-at-laptop-900×765-Copy.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-marcus-aurelius-wheelchair-user-at-laptop-900×765-Copy-150×150.jpg2026-01-19T09:48:34+00:00Government & Local AuthoritiesNewsroomReports & ResearchSector NewsSick and disabled people will have more opportunities to move into work following the overhaul of a scheme that will boost living standards and workplace inclusion.
The Disability Confident scheme – launched by the previous government in 2016 – has delivered huge variations of support across different UK regions, often…Liane McIvorLiane
McIvorliane@thiis.co.ukEditorTHIIS Magazine
