Charity urges employers to adopt a more inclusive recruitment policy

Nick Elvin

The charity Mencap is calling on firms to take on more workers with learning disabilities.

And to help spread that message it has launched a lobbying pack to enable employees to challenge their employer to adopt a more diverse recruitment policy.

The pack, downloadable from Mencap’s website, details the benefits of employing people with a learning disability and advice on how an employer can adopt a more inclusive employment strategy.

Mencap points out that 7% of people with a learning disability are currently in paid employment. This, it says, is despite research suggesting 77% of the public think more highly of companies who employ people with a disability, and proven lower sickness rates and higher job satisfaction for employees with a learning disability. The Social Market Foundation also estimates that raising disability employment to the national average would boost the UK economy by at least £13 billion.

Mark Capper, business development manager, at Mencap said: “With only 7% of people with a learning disability in paid work, more must be done to help increase opportunities to develop work skills and aid with the progression into employment.

“People with a learning disability have an equal right to work as anyone else. The companies we have worked with realise this and are also beginning to realise that offering work placements to people with a learning disability does not only help the individual, but can be profitable for their business as well.”

Mencap issued the lobbying pack in association with membership organisation Inclusive Employers as part of Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week, which runs until November 16.

The first Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week, which took place last year, saw the likes of McDonald’s, the House of Commons, South West Trains, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Strudel Design, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service all receive industry awards in recognition of their inclusive employment strategies, and this year more employers have signed up to the campaign, including the British Red Cross and Land Securities.

Richard McKenna, of Inclusive Employers said: “Initiatives such as Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week allows us to make companies aware of the social and commercial benefit of employing people with a disability, and gives our members new perspectives on inclusion and opportunities to harness different talent. Working with Mencap has allowed us to create workplace cultures where all people are valued equally and where all people can add value.”