Written question WQ83191

We have developed a package of support for businesses providing them with the tools to create high performing inclusive workforces, helping to remove societal barriers and improve employment outcomes for disabled people.

The Programme for Government identifies a commitment to our Disabled People’s Employment Champions as a mechanism to help close the employment gap between disabled people and the rest of the working population.

The Champions are working with employers across Wales, utilising their lived experience to advocate for employment of disabled people, encouraging employers to take action to create the conditions where disabled people can gain and thrive in employment. The Champions are working in partnership with Business Wales promoting awareness of the support available to employers, including providing practical advice and help on issues such as inclusive HR policies, recruitment, and retraining and staff retention.

Through our Champions we will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders and employers to ensure that we take joint action to make sure disabled people are not being left behind as the economy gets on the road to recovery.

We are also making use of our social partnership approach and our influence to encourage employers to do more to reap the benefits of a more equal, diverse and inclusive workforce. This includes embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into our interventions to support, facilitate and encourage social partnership and fair work, as well as working with employers, trade unions and others to promote best practice.

We are increasing the number of apprenticeships through our employer incentives, of up to £4,000, with an additional payment of £1,500 to employers for each new disabled apprentice they hire. This will run up to September 2021.

To complement the work of the Champions, we have an employer tool-kit - guiding employers through the journey of recruitment through to the retention of disabled people. We are also finalising an e-learning module for employers on the social model of disability and this will be published shortly.

Our Remote Working policy aims to support employers in implementing more agile and flexible working practices, to promote greater choice and diversity in working patterns for the long term, not just as a response to the pandemic.

Full guidance is available at: https://businesswales.gov.wales/responsible-business/supporting-disabled-employees