Following a meeting with representatives from the Macclesfield Jobcentre Plus at Macclesfield Town Hall on 24th March, local MP, David Rutley, gave his active support to holding a Disability Confident event in Macclesfield in September.
This important event will encourage local businesses to find out more about the Disability Confident employer scheme. The scheme supports employers to attract, recruit and retain disabled workers by providing them with practical advice, tools and ongoing support. Nearly 4,000 organisations have already signed up to the scheme nationally, but with only 48 per cent of disabled people currently employed, the Government recognises that more needs to be done to help them get into the workforce.
Macclesfield’s Jobcentre Plus believes that there is clear potential for more local employers to provide more employment opportunities in and around the town. Local businesses can find more information and guidance about becoming Disability Confident by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign, and further details about the forthcoming event in Macclesfield will be communicated directly to local employers in the months ahead. Any local employers who would like to take part in Macclesfield’s Disability Confident event should get in touch with David at david.rutley.mp@parliament.uk.
Speaking about the Disability Confident Employer Scheme, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Penny Mordaunt MP, said: “I want to congratulate David for taking steps to create more Disability Confident employers, and helping close the disability employment gap. The scheme not only supports employers who want to know how they can make their organisation more inclusive, it sends a powerful signal to disabled candidates that if they apply to that firm they can have confidence their needs will be understood and supported.”
David said: “Disabled people make up a fifth of the working age population and there are employers in Macclesfield who may not be benefiting from the talents they have to offer. The event I am helping to organise in September will enable more employers to become Disability Confident and will help lead to increased opportunities for local disabled people to realise their potential in the workplace.”