EDT accredited as a Disability Confident Employer

Disability Confident is a UK Government accreditation scheme to support businesses to attract, recruit, develop and retain disabled employees, including people with long-term health conditions. It also helps identify those employers who are committed to inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

Kay Storey, Strategic HR Business Partner said,

“We are delighted with the great progress we have made since joining the scheme in 2021. Disability Confident aligns with EDT’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity.

“We hope the work we are doing will inspire candidates and existing staff to talk to us and that they know they will be supported. We will work with them to create an environment that will help them thrive and achieve their full potential at work.”

Suzie Walker, HR Operations & Recruitment Manager, said,

“We have now demonstrated that we have the recruitment and retention measures in place of an accredited Disability Confident Employer, making a positive difference in the recruitment and working experience of candidates and colleagues with a disability or long-term health condition.

What we achieved as a Disability Committed Employer (Level 1)

• Ensuring recruitment is inclusive and accessible
• Communicating our commitment to applicants
• Offering interviews to people with a disability
• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments
• Supporting employees with a disability and enabling them to stay in work.

Why we have been recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)

• Increase in number of applicants who feel confident in disclosing a disability
• Increase in the percentage of applicants who disclosed a disability and secure an interview
• Increase in the percentage of applicants who successfully progress to an offer
• Ability to capture and document workplace adjustments which are accessible to employee, HR and line-manager
• Increase in number of staff developing a workplace adjustment plan with line-manager and HR support.

What we are doing to help us become a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3)

• More training and support for hiring managers
• Workshop to identify key priority areas for improvement
• Increasing voice of people with disabilities to encourage involvement in the next stage.

How we encourage colleagues to play a role in EDT’s continuing development as an inclusive and diverse organisation:

• Join our special interest group (SIG) on neurodiversity
• Join our task force to raise awareness of issues around disability
• Become part of a special interest group (SIG) around disability in the workplace
• Complete diversity information to help monitor diversity across our organisation.