Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports businesses to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees and serve disabled customers. Our 400 members employ around 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
Diane Lightfoot CEO of Business Disability Forum
Partner Experts are Members & Ambassadors that have proved to supply the highest levels of training and support. They have also shown their commitment to excellence through their support of Includability Members & the community.
Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports businesses to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees and serve disabled customers. Our 400 members employ around 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
Ultimately, we exist to transform the life chances of disabled people, working through and with business to create a disability-smart world. We do this by bringing business leaders, disabled people, and Government together to understand what needs to change to improve the life opportunities and experiences of disabled people in employment, economic growth, and society more widely.
Our Members and Partners represent a huge cross sector of UK and global business, ranging from FTSE 500 companies to central government departments, construction companies, retailers, NHS trusts, emergency services and more. Whichever sector they come from, we provide them with a wealth of practical advice and support, thought leadership and networking opportunities to share what works – and what doesn’t! – in a safe space with peers.
In turn, we share this feedback and experience with government and policy makers to help shape disability policy that works.
We think. We advise. We share.
Our community of businesses, thought leaders, and disabled people develop research which influences Government and business policy development.
Our leading business inclusion Advice Service provide a responsive and confidential space for any professional working on any aspect of disability inclusion to talk through ideas, trouble shoot, and get expert case management support on the disability related challenges in their business.
Our events, sector networks, and subject task groups bring together professionals with shared interests to learn from one another, share insight on what works, and collaborate on projects.
We provide practical, evidence-based, strategic solutions for businesses to recruit, retain, and provide inclusive products and services to disabled people via our Disability Business Partners and Senior Disability Business Partners. Our policy, research, and advice related functions are channels by which Business Disability Forum has access to the latest business insight on challenges, changing business structures and landscapes, and the types of practices that employers and service providers are currently developing and are most effective for removing barriers for people with disabilities and long-term conditions.
To find out more about membership, please visit our Membership page or contact our Director – Membership, David Goodchild via email or call 020-7089-2411
We are the only organisation that exists to equip and work with every area and level of a business. The depth of relationships we have enables us to us to harness the combined experience of business and disabled people to improve business practices and influence disability related Government policy development.
We speak across the whole business. We have tools and resources for leaders, recruitment, learning and development, talent and inclusion, human resources, employee relations and engagement, organisational development, health and safety, estates and facilities, communications and marketing, technology, and procurement.
We speak at every level. C-suite, board, senior management, policy and legal, ‘mid’ management, line managers, employee networks. Whether you are communicating your businesses’ vision, driving strategy, writing policies, implementing procedures, designing processes, or managing people, we can work with you and share the approaches other businesses in your sector and beyond take.
We are experienced specialists. Our experts have worked in a range of sectors in many professions: diversity management, recruitment, human resources management, employment law, education, disabled people’s care and support services, people and business management, social research.
We are disability inclusion. 65 percent of our own staff and 60 percent of our leadership team have a disability or long-term condition. Many of our staff are involved in disabled people’s organisations that represent our own conditions or interests. We speak as qualified business professionals as well as from the experience of our own stories as people with disabilities and long-term conditions.
We are Business Disability Forum. We believe the 26 million people in the UK and over 1 billion people worldwide with disabilities and long-term conditions enhance the social and economic health of our societies. We exist to remove barriers in business structures and Government that prevent disabled people from thriving and contributing in this way.
Ultimately, our mission is to transform the life chances of disabled people as employees and consumers.
We live and work by our values which are:
We provide a wide range of practical support to our Members and Partners to support them in their Disability Smart journey.
At the heart of our support is our confidential Advice Service, a team of expert advisers with a wealth of experience in disability, HR, legal and wider employment and consumer issues. Our Members and Partners get in touch often because we are pragmatic problem-solvers. We give advice that will help you practically ‘now’, and we will also advise on the wider strategic or policy implications and improvements to help you avoid future challenges.
People get in touch with the Advice Service for a number of reasons, such as:
Some of our most frequently asked queries include:
Many of our Members and Partners contact us even when they don’t have specific questions – for example, to let us know what they are currently working on, to run ideas by us, or to get our view on a situation even if they know the answer.
Other services we provide include:
Our membership includes many of the UK’s largest businesses and global brands as well as public sector employers and SMEs. Join our friendly community and learn from organisations who are at different stages of their Disability-Smart journey as well as accessing a wide range of advice and support.
As a Business Disability Forum Member, you will receive:
Access to personalised Services
Access to insightful resources and publications
Access to unique Networking opportunities:
Please find out more about Member and Partner benefits:
View Business Disability Forum’s brochure (PDF Document)
or alternatively
Download Business-Disability-Forum’s-brochure (Word Document)
Whether your business is an international brand or a small local company Includability can help benefit you and your team. Our membership offers not only exclusive unlimited access to our job board, but special discounts, community webinars and great support for your business as you grow. Find out why organisations choose the Includability community to help them offer a more inclusive workplace
Our members are dedicated to helping create a society that is free from discrimination, that cares for our planet and has genuine focus on our colleagues, friends and employees Mental Health and Wellbeing. That is what Community means to us and we would love for you to be a part of it.
If you are a company that is committed to creating an inclusive, sustainable and mentally healthy workplace culture, we understand the potential challenges that you may come up against.
Our 6-call verification process, conducted by expert Verification Partners, meticulously analyses your organisation’s practices. This is followed by a Verification Partner Report that identifies areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
You will benefit from regular informative and educational webinars, resources and a community of ambassadors, Partner Experts and exclusive member benefits.
As an organisation, the key to making meaningful progress is communicating effectively, regularly and with transparency. Our community, who are all passionate about our key pillars, are available to offer you advice, support and guidance when needed.
Individually we can make a difference, but together we can instigate meaningful and positive change. The Includability team is here to make introductions, encourage the sharing of best practice and support each other as we navigate our way to the inclusive and sustainable workplace culture we are all striving to achieve.
Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration.
To create an inclusive workplace culture takes expertise and knowledge which is why we encourage our members to work together. Our regular community networking sessions will provide you access to our directory of Ambassadors, members and advisors so you know that the people you are working with will not only give you the right advice but also share the same values as you.
Relationships are more than just about completing a job or task which is why we use the word community. What we think you’ll love most about Includability is that every person and business has the same values and is working towards the same goal - to create a society that is free from discrimination, that cares for our planet and has genuine focus on our colleagues, friends and employees’ Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Our news and articles section is designed to help you find information about all areas of the Includability community. We have collected articles from the experts at the forefront in developing a diverse, inclusive and sustainable world. We have news, expert articles, case studies and advice.
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