We choose our focus areas and design research projects that provide solutions for Government and policy makers, as well as highlighting what needs to change. This is because we believe that finding the right solution with everyone’s input – business, disabled people, and Government – results in the best outcomes for everyone.
Our priority themes for 2023
Our priority themes for 2023 remain:
- Disability, health and work – focusing on flexible working, workplace adjustments, and disability workforce reporting, disability passports, and workplace health and rehabilitation (including occupational health).
- Enforcing rights and Government strategies – focusing on the Government’s forthcoming disability White Paper and Disability Action Plan.
- Inequalities in society – we will be consulting on how Government should ensure all disabled people have access to the right adjustments, regardless of whether they are in education or employment, to help increase opportunities to participate in all areas of life – including public appointments, social and volunteering activities.
- Technology and transitions – we will be consulting on how to improve experiences of disabled people moving between education and employment. In Autumn 2023, we will be working with our higher education members to work on specific recommendations from the university related findings of The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey. We will also continue our regular collaborative policy work as part of the Disability Charities Consortium.
Key research projects
We are working on two large scale projects:
- Disability Workforce Reporting (DWR). This research is looking at how disabled employees feel about ‘disclosure’ and data monitoring surveys and if employers are collecting the right data to make inclusive changes to their workforce. Our Disability Data Monitoring Working Group continues to support the development of this research which will be finalising in Spring 2023 to inform guidance on voluntary workforce reporting. See more on the Disability Data Monitoring Working Group so far here.
- The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey 2023. This year’s survey focusses on the wellbeing of disabled employees, getting adjustments post-pandemic, and the experience of disabled graduates moving from education to employment. More details on the Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey 2023 can be found here.
New forums and working groups for 2023-24
We continue to run a number of forums and working groups where Business Disability Forum Members and Partners can get involved in our policy and research. We are adding more in 2023-24.
- Government Policy Forum. With many Government policy changes and announcements expected this year, we are creating this forum to consult with members on developments and to give feedback from our member community directly to Government. This forum is for anyone working in our any of our member organisations – not just those in central or local Government- including business leaders, managers, and disabled employees. Please get in touch if you are interested in being part of the Forum.
- Flexible Working Task Group – a short-term working group to focus on the Government’s response to reforming flexible working rights.
Our approach to collaborations and working with researchers
We are a small team, with many potential areas of policy and research we could get involved in. We therefore schedule our projects at least six months in advance.
- We are happy to discuss research collaborations that produce original insights and practical, helpful solutions that benefit business, disabled people, and government.
- We value evidenced based, credible, and original research from academia, think tanks, and other third sector led projects.
- We regularly act as non-academic advisers to research teams, and we are happy to share our expertise on research design and disability and health inclusion with non-academic researcher projects too.
- We are able to share relevant research with our member community.
Read our approach to working with researchers.
Collaborative policy and research development
We believe in constructive debate and in presenting all options available. We therefore love “kind” challenge and helpful, collaborative disagreements. We treat differences of opinion with respect and, more than this, we value them and seek them out. We believe differences of opinion help us make potential solutions and policy developments all the more robust (and fun).
If this fits your approach, and you would like to discuss opportunities to collaborate, get in touch.
