Ashford employers are grouping together to support more disabled people into jobs.

The disability employment rate is now nearly 52%, up from 44% five years ago. Ashford wants to go further by hosting a Disability Confident event.

The aim of the event is to show local businesses the benefits of increasing the diversity of their workforce and offering opportunities to disabled jobseekers, including work experience, apprenticeships, work trials and employment.

The event is to be hosted by Ashford MP Damian Green and the Department for Work and Pensions at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce on Friday 12 July. It will offer the chance for local employers to find out more from other businesses and local disability support organisations about hiring disabled people.

Ashford MP Damian Green said:

“I am really keen that more employers in Ashford sign up for the Disability Confident Scheme.

“The evidence shows that employers who take on disabled workers find that they have hard-working and loyal staff.

“It is important that all those who can work, despite being disabled, are helped to do so. It is better for them, and better for the economy.”

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said:

“I want to congratulate Ashford for taking steps to create more job opportunities for local disabled people.

“There are almost 950,000 more disabled people in work compared to five years ago, but there is still more to do.

“By bringing together local businesses and disabled jobseekers, employers in Kent can ensure they don’t miss out on some of the best talent in their community.”

Over 12,000 employers across the country have already signed up to the Disability Confident scheme.

The scheme addresses misconceptions about disabled people in the workplace and provides employers with the tools to be more inclusive and support their disabled staff, which can benefit both their workforce and their business.