Business Disability Forum

ActionAble 2025 registration is open! We’re excited to exhibit at the inaugural ActionAble Summit 2025, taking place on 26 February 9 am - 5 pm. Join us virtually to make this a standout year for disability inclusion across UK businesses. What’s in store: ✨ Expert-led tools for real change. ✨ Build your own event and tailor your experience. ✨ Join world-renowned practitioners from the Business and Disability Inclusion communities. ✨ Be part of a movement to end workplace disability exclusion with global leaders and experts. Registration is free. Come and find us in our exhibitor booth! Register: https://lnkd.in/et9DywWF [Image description: Designed image for the event. At the top, a dark purple banner with the words: 'ActionAble 2025. A day of action on disability inclusion. 26 February 2025'. Below is a collage of 12 speaker photos in 2 rows, and at the bottom are the partner logos: Business Disability Forum, Channel 4, Lloyds Banking Group, Scope, PurpleSpace, Valuable 500, Sara Weller CBE and Impact Match.] Sara Weller CBE, Channel 4, Lloyds Banking Group, PurpleSpace, Scope Valuable 500 ImpactMatch #ActionAble2025 #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveWorkplace #SocialImpact

📅 Free webinar for organisations on their #DisabilityConfident journey on 27 February. The fourth and last event in our Navigating the Disability Confident Journey series will focus on the Voluntary Reporting Framework. Key topics will include: Understanding the Disability Confident Scheme and its benefits. How the Voluntary Reporting Framework supports disability inclusion and transparency. Practical advice on collecting, reporting data for your DC submission. Interactive Q&A with Business Disability Forum Advice Service experts. This webinar is ideal for HR professionals, diversity and inclusion practitioners, senior leaders, and anyone committed to building a more inclusive workplace. Book your place: https://ow.ly/tmWR50UJrm6 [Image description: Professional with Chanarin–Dorfman syndrome, who uses a wheelchair, in a meeting with 2 colleagues in an open-plan office. The Business Disability Forum 'Changing the image of disability' logo is in the lower right corner of the image.] #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveWorkplace Jem Freeman Daniel Cadey

New free webinar series! 🎤 The What works? webinar series is designed to guide you through the essentials of disability inclusion. It is led by BDF experts, drawing on the experiences of over 600 businesses. The webinars are free and open to all. What to expect: A summary of the law and requirements. Practical tips and best practice solutions. Signposting to a wealth of resources. The opportunity to ask questions of experts from our Advice Service. Save the dates for all the webinars: Wednesday 19 March, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm: Recruiting disabled employees. Register: https://ow.ly/ZRJb50UVuMh Tuesday 20 May, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm: Reasonable adjustments for disabled colleagues. Tuesday 8 July, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm: Disability data monitoring and collection. Thursday 16 October, 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm: Retaining disabled employees. Find out more about the series: https://ow.ly/Z7Nx50UVuMg [Image description: Designed purple and grey card for the webinar series, with the Business Disability Forum logo. It features the photo of a Deaf woman signing in BSL.] #WebinarSeries #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilitySmart #InclusiveRecruitment #ReasonableAdjustments #DisabledEmployees #DataMonitoring

🔊Employer focus groups: 🔊Calling for central London employers Participate in our Connect to Work research to have your say about how employment support for disabled people and people with long term health conditions is delivered in central London. Learning and Work Institute and Inclusion London are carrying out independent research to inform how a new employment support programme, Connect to Work, is delivered in central London. Connect to Work is funded by the DWP and will start in April 2025. It will support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to find suitable work opportunities, and support employers to find suitable candidates. 🔊Focus groups will take place online on the 12th February, 2-3pm and on the 25th February, 10-11am. You will only be asked to take part in one focus group.  Your views are essential in shaping successful employment support and understanding how employers engage with diverse talent across London. To find out more and register please email Connecttoworkresearch@learningandwork.org.uk or alternatively call 07983 946498. Further information can also be found https://lnkd.in/eJ-wBFg4

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is coming into effect in June 2025 - are you ready for it? Our free resource explains what businesses need to know and do. The EAA will benefit businesses, as well as persons with disabilities, so read our guide to find out more. https://ow.ly/6JQX50UQbm8 [Image description: Passenger who is short in stature and has a facial difference talks to an airport worker with less-visible disabilities at check-in counter. The Business Disability Forum 'Changing the image of disability' logo is in the lower right corner of the image.] #BDFTechTaskforce #EuropeanAccessibilityAct #EAA

Follow us on Bluesky! 🦋 We recently decided to leave X (formerly Twitter) and move to Bluesky. We've been delighted to find old friends there, and to make new connections. Our content is available on Bluesky and LinkedIn. We invite all our Members, Partners and contacts to follow us and say hello! @https://lnkd.in/eH5VXndd [Image description: The above text in white letters against a blue background. Below are the Business Disability Forum and Bluesky logos.] #Bluesky #SocialMedia #DisabilitySmart

Disability must be a priority in procurement. All users – including those with disabilities – must be able to use what you procure. Find out the principles of disability-smart procurement, including our top tips, in our free resource: https://ow.ly/IHJt50UUKtn This resource is part of our Procurement Toolkit, sponsored by Sodexo UK and Ireland. Our Members and Partners can access the whole toolkit: https://ow.ly/qMYa50UUKto [Image description: Professional with less-visible disabilities adjusts her desk chair in an open-plan office. The Business Disability Forum 'Changing the image of disability' logo is in the lower right corner of the image.] #Procurement #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilitySmart #InclusiveProcurement #InclusiveWorkplace

Your disability inclusion journey starts with our Disability Essentials range: a collection of free resources containing essential disability guidance for business. Guidance covers the law of disability, managing adjustments, guide dogs and assistance animals, disabled customers and accessibility. Access the Disability Essentials range: https://ow.ly/Vi9U50UTfyR [Image description: Person with a facial difference using public transport in a wheelchair. They're holding crutches. The Business Disability Forum 'Changing the image of disability' logo is in the lower right corner of the image.] #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilitySmart

ActionAble 2025, 26 Feb: The UK’s largest virtual event dedicated to helping organisations end Disability Exclusion 📣 From practical strategies to big-picture thinking, we're bringing together 60+ experts covering: Leadership & Development, Communications & Marketing, Workplace Adjustments, Recruitment, Customer & Service Users, Colleagues, and Business Strategy, ensuring there’s a session for everyone. Delegates can tailor their event by selecting sessions and exhibitors that align with their goals. Here’s what’s in store: 9:30 | Welcome from Sara Weller 9:50 | Sir Charlie Mayfield discusses the Keep Britain Working Review  10:05 | Working Together - Mark Hodgkinson, Diane Lightfoot  10:25 | Driving Inclusion: Policy, Productivity, and Participation in the Labour Market - Rain Newton-Smith, Ruth Sunderland MA FRSA   10:45 | The Power of Acting as One - Dr. Caroline Casey 11:20 | The Colleague viewpoint: To Share or not to Share? Kate Nash OBE 💜, Sally Owen 11:20 | What Makes an Inclusive Leader? Katy Talikowska 11:20 | The Business Case for Disability Inclusion: Connecting to Customers - Marc Allera 11:20 | Accessing Talent: How to Find, Select and Embed Disabled Talent - Syreeta Brown, FCIPD CMgr CCMI 11:20 | Workplaces that Work: Creating Environments That Include Everyone - Diane Lightfoot 12:15 | The Colleague Viewpoint: What Matters Most - Kate Nash OBE 💜 , Brendan Roach 12:15 | Line Managers are Everything - Katy Talikowska 12:15 | The Business Case for Disability: Why Disability, Why Now? Jasjyot Singh OBE 12:15 |  Accessing Talent: Creating a Disability-Inclusive Culture in a Hybrid World - Syreeta Brown, FCIPD CMgr CCMI 12:15 | Workplaces that Work: Small Change, Big Difference - Diane Lightfoot 14:35 | Storytelling: Making the Impossible Possible - Christopher Patnoe 14:35 | Storytelling: Overturned Overnight - Martha Lane Fox and Sara Weller. 14:35 | Storytelling: Designing around the Customer - Charlie Magadah-Williams 14:35 | Storytelling: Today's Students, Tomorrow's Leaders - Helen Cooke 15:45 | Closing Keynote: Seizing the Opportunity - Alex Mahon Register now to secure your place: https://lnkd.in/et9DywWF See a full list of panellists in the comments below!👇

Our Partners Microlink PC (UK) Ltd and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are launching a webinar series on the Disability Confident scheme, titled 'Work Well; Making work, work for everyone', beginning on 27 February. This series of 9 insightful webinars aims to promote a more inclusive and effective workplace for all. To launch the series, the focus is on 'Working Together: Building a Disability Confident Workplace', delving into how organisations can collaborate with employees, stakeholders, and the Disability Confident scheme to create a supportive and inclusive culture. Join them as they explore practical steps to meet Disability Confident criteria, covering everything from accessible recruitment to effective retention strategies. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and actionable strategies to make your workplace truly inclusive. [Image description: Designed card for the Microlink and DWP webinar series, with details for the first webinar: Thursday 2 pm GMT, 27th February.] Register for the webinars: https://lnkd.in/ev-N_Jd8 #DisabilityConfident #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveWorkplace