Bristol24/7 Presents: How can we make Bristol's boardrooms more diverse? / diversity
How Bristol is getting more disabled people into the workforce
In a free virtual event held on November 18, Bristol24/7 is asking experts the importance of a diverse boardroom – and how we can make sure that our workforces prioritise a high level of diversity.
A vital aspect that needs to be explored in the discussion of diversity is the inclusion of people living with disabilities.
Bristol’s inclusion of Disabled people in the workforce – at any level – is something that desperately needs improving.
is needed now More than ever
The most recent statistics available highlight how 75.4 per cent of Disabled people aged 16 and over are economically inactive. This is compared to 24.9 per cent of their non-Disabled counterparts.
Going deeper into the data, the statistics also show that Disabled people are less likely to be employed in managerial or professional occupations (19.8 per cent) than those not disabled (34.7 per cent) – making it much less likely for a Disabled person to be taking up space in one of our boardrooms.
To tackle this issue, a new programme that is part of the Workforce for the Future project, is breaking down barriers and supporting more Disabled people into work across Bristol and the West of England.
Inclusion, Disability, Equality, Action (IDEA) is a new scheme that is run by disability charity Leonard Cheshire on behalf of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Leonard Cheshire will be working with small and medium-sized businesses across the city to provide tailored, targeted disability inclusion training through workshops and resources.
Ruth Owen is the CEO of Leonard Cheshire. Credit: Leonard Cheshire.
“Encouraging applications from disabled people is good for business, not only because it increases the number of talented applicants available, but because it also creates a workforce that reflects the diverse range of customers a business serves, and the community in which it is based,” said Ruth Owen, who is the chief executive of Leonard Cheshire.
To find out more about the programme, you can visit Workforce for the Future.
If you are interested in diversity in Bristol’s workforce and boardrooms, you can sign up for the Bristol24/7 Presents: How can we make Bristol’s boardrooms more diverse?
Sponsored by TLT, the free panel event featuring experts from across Bristol will take place on November 18 at 2pm.
Main photo: West of England Combined Authority
Read more: How diverse are Bristol’s boardrooms?
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