Annual Conference 2023: Back to the future – how should employers respond to the “new normal”?

Our Annual Conference, sponsored by NatWest, took place on 28 June 2023 online and in-person at the NatWest Conference Centre in London.

During a day of talks and discussions, we explored what the “new normal” means for employers and disabled people.

In the context of a shrinking workforce and spiralling costs, employers are competing for talent and struggling to retain workers in every sector. Meanwhile, disabled school leavers find it difficult to secure employment, disabled graduates remain much less likely to be in paid employment than non-disabled graduates, the over 50s are leaving work early or have not returned post-pandemic, and carers are not receiving the support they need.

Businesses that thrive know they must tap into disabled talent and those that don’t will struggle.

Our speakers and panellists discussed how employers can change the narrative and find ways to attract and retain disabled workers and those that care for them.

The conference was chaired by our CEO Diane Lightfoot and our Head of Legal and Content Bela Gor.

We heard addresses from:

• Oliver Holbourn, CEO, RBS International,
• Viscount Younger of Leckie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions,
• John McCalla-Leacy, Head of Global ESG, KPMG International and Head of ESG, KPMG in the UK.

Comedy from:

Lost Voice Guy AKA Lee Ridley.

Sessions:

School’s out! – and not just for summer

• Claire Cookson, CEO, DFN Project SEARCH and DFN Foundation,
• Anna Skeats, CEO, Mason Foundation,
• Gordon Tillman, CEO, The Oaks Specialist College,
• Dr Vivienne Monk, Strategic Projects Lead, Deputy Head of Quality and Efficiency and SBH Business Liaison, DFN Project SEARCH Programme, Barts Health NHS Trust, St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

The Disabled Graduate

• Angela Matthews, Head of Policy, Business Disability Forum,
• Helen Cooke, CEO & Founder, MyPlus,
• Keren Coney, Careers and Employability Consultant, Liverpool John Moores University,
• Lois Barker, BSc Psychology Graduate, University of Reading.

Adjustments for life – how to make the world of work wonderful

• Angela Matthews, Head of Policy, Business Disability Forum,
• Dr Nasser Siabi OBE, CEO, Microlink.

Retaining older disabled workers – mission impossible?

• Andy Briggs, CEO, Phoenix Group.

The circle of life – who cares?

• Natalie Quilter, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Lead and Chair of Carers Network, Notting Hill Genesis,
• Chantel Emery, Advice Service Officer, Business Disability Forum,
• Eleni Katsoulis, Internal Audit, Natwest Group (Full Time Core Role), and Carers Co-ordinator, HomeLife Network,
• Daniel Cadey, Senior Disability Business Partner, Business Disability Forum.

If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.