Jobcentre hosts disability 'confident' workshop for Grantham employers
Employers across Grantham were invited to take part in a Disability Confident workshop on Friday.
The aim of the three-hour event, which was organised by Grantham and Stamford Jobcentres at the Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham, was to help employers to become ‘Disability Confident’.
This included identifying the advantages of employing people with a disability or long-term health condition and sharing good practice and knowledge.
Disability Confident is a government scheme that employers can sign up to make it clear that they encourage job applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Jonathan Beech, employer adviser at Grantham Job Centre, said: “Presentations by employment advisors within the NHS mental health teams and a member of the Autism Work Focus Group provided lots of food for thought and instigated fascinating discussions around subjects including disclosure, the decision that people need to make when deciding whether to share details of a condition with an employer.”
The event was the first of a series of workshops to help local businesses to become more ‘Disability Confident’.
It also received support from Grantham MP Nick Boles, who although couldn’t attend the workshop, said: “I hope it will create the start of a local community of employers that share expertise and the benefits of employing people with disabilities and long term health conditions within our area.”
Jonathan added: “We will be arranging further events to support and bring employers together. “
Any employers wishing to join or are keen to continue their involvement, can contact Jonathan Beech and Nicola Fox, employer advisers at Grantham Jobcentre by emailing: grantham.employeradviser@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
The employers that attended the workshop on Friday included; Duncan and Toplis, Grantham Tennis Club, McCain Foods, Heritage Care, Oldrids, Reflect Recruitment, South Kesteven District Council, Specialised Chemicals, Thera Trust, The Retail Data Partnership and Totemic.
