Spring Budget 2024: Business Disability Forum responds

Business Disability Forum has called into question the Government’s commitment to support disabled people to find and stay in work in its response to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget statement today. Business Disability Forum’s Head of Policy, Angela Matthews, said: “Today’s budget saw important investment to build and grow businesses across the UK. However, with this…

Disabled people often not seen in media and advertising content, new research finds

Images of wheelchair and mobility scooter users are the most likely to have been seen in content to represent disability (by 26 per cent of respondents). Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of people with a disability* surveyed agreed that images of disabled people used in content they had seen, watched or read, reflected…

Disability Action Plan is a missed opportunity on employment

Responding to the publication of the Government’s Disability Action Plan (5 February) Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, said: “We welcome the publication of the Disability Action Plan and many of the proposals set out within it. We are particularly pleased to see the mention of our “Technology for Life” concept which we believe…

Prime Minister must rethink decision on Disability Minister role

Business Disability Forum is calling on the Prime Minister to rethink his decision to downgrade the Disability Minister role and instead use this as an opportunity to make disabled people a government priority. Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, said: “We remain shocked and deeply concerned by the Government’s decision to replace the Disability…

Disability Smart Awards 2024 and A to Z of disability launched

Business Disability Forum (BDF) has opened nominations for its Disability Smart Awards 2024 (1 December) along with launching a new A to Z of disability resource with free information for all businesses. Disability Smart Awards 2024: Open for nominations The Disability Smart Awards 2024 are free to enter and open to UK and global organisations…

Autumn Statement: Back to work plans unrealistic and out-of-touch

Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, today (22 November), Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, said: “We are left concerned and saddened by many of the measures for disabled people claiming benefits announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement today and in recent days. “Many disabled people who want to work struggle to find a…

New guides for business on guide dogs, assistance animals and emotional support animals

Business Disability Forum has published a series of short guides today (7 November) offering advice to all businesses on how to welcome disabled customers and employees with assistance and support animals. ‘Guide dogs, assistance animals and emotional support animals’ explains the different types of animals that some disabled people rely on in their daily lives….

Disability Action Plan published: Disability charities respond

The Government has published its Disability Action Plan today (18 July). Business Disability Forum has responded as a member of the the Disability Charities Consortium (DCC). The DCC brings together CEOs and policy leads from nine of the UK’s leading not-for-profit disability organisations to work collaboratively to make sure disabled people’s experiences are reflected in UK…

Business Disability Forum appoints Steve Ingham as new Chair

Steve Ingham CBE, former CEO of PageGroup, is to become the new Chair of Business Disability Forum (BDF). The non-profit business and disability inclusion membership organisation announced the new appointment today (5 July). Steve will take over from BDF’s current Chair, Steve Miller, in November. Steve Miller, who is Group CIO of International Personal Finance,…

Disabled graduates face multiple barriers when moving into work, Business Disability Forum research finds

The majority (64 per cent) of disabled graduates find it difficult or very difficult to apply for jobs due to disability-related barriers. Just over half (57 per cent) do not feel well-prepared to discuss disability with a potential employer and over a quarter (27 per cent) say they cannot access the same adjustments they had…

Workplaces are still not inclusive, new Business Disability Forum research finds

Business Disability Forum (BDF) has published one of the most comprehensive pieces of research ever conducted into the workplace experiences of disabled people and people with long term conditions in the UK today (20 June). The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey 2023 looks at the experiences of nearly 1,500 disabled employees and 400 managers around…

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