Business Disability Forum (BDF) has launched a range of free disability resources for the UK’s small and medium-sized business community. The resources offer advice on how to attract and retain disabled employees and how to welcome disabled customers.
BDF believes that it is important for all businesses to recognise the benefits that disabled people bring to their organisations. One in five people in the UK has a disability, and disabled people often experience barriers both in the workplace and as consumers.
The SME Toolkit
Funded by The City Bridge Trust, the SME Toolkit provides guidance specifically for smaller businesses and start-ups on how to meet the needs of disabled people.
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
Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, said: “We know that this is a difficult time for many smaller business owners as they face many competing pressures. We hope the practical and easy-to-action advice in our SME toolkit will help businesses attract and retain skilled and valuable staff. We also hope it will help businesses to broaden their customer base by better serving the needs of disabled consumers.”
James Lee, Programme Manager, The City Bridge Trust, said: “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. We thank Business Disability Forum for their expertise in putting together this valuable asset, and we are sure that its impact will be felt far and wide.”
You can view and download the SME Toolkit from the Business Disability Forum’s Knowledge Hub.
