Nottingham College is proud to have gained the Level 1 Disability Confident Committed status. This is the first level in a 3-tier scheme run by the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions, and an exciting step forward for the college.
The Disability Confident Employer Scheme aims to help organisations recognise the skills and strengths that disabled people bring to the workplace. Developed jointly by employers and representatives of disabled people, the scheme is intended to be both rigorous and accessible. It also seeks to create a wider cultural shift by encouraging businesses to think differently about disability and to take practical action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled staff.
As a part of gaining Level 1 status, Nottingham College has committed to ensuring their recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, to anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as required, and to support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
Nottingham College’s accreditation places it among a growing number of employers across the country that are committed to removing barriers and expanding opportunities for disabled people. It also builds on the college’s recent efforts to strengthen support for staff wellbeing, having become both an Endometriosis Friendly and Menopause Friendly employer within the past year. The college states that it will continue to develop its approach as it works to create an open, inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.
Andrew Comyn, Deputy CEO at Nottingham College, said: “Accreditations like this are an important way for us to reflect on our current practices while also pushing us to strive for greater equity and positive change. Beyond serving as a visible marker of our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Disability Confident scheme gives us a clear framework to guide the work we are doing to become a more inclusive employer.
“We are actively reviewing our recruitment processes to ensure that potential colleagues receive the support they need, while continuing to strengthen the assistance we offer to existing staff, including those with long term health conditions or a disability. I am proud to have supported this work on behalf of the college and look forward to building on the progress we have made.”