Becoming an Inclusive Employer Training

Oxfordshire Careers Hub, a partnership between OxLEP Skills and the Careers and Enterprise Company, has arranged for BASE (British Association of Supported Employment) to deliver a series of workshops for employers. These sessions will support you to work with young people with neurodiversity, disabilities, and/or mental health conditions.

The unemployment rate for disabled people is 6.2%, compared to the unemployment rate for people who are not disabled, which is 3.4%, yet we know that there is a clear case for recruiting disabled employees, including:

• Recruit from a wider availability of labour

• Reduced recruitment costs

• Supported selection process gives accurate job-client match

• Improved retention

• Improved image & external reputation

• Team-building & internal reputation

• Diversity-improved services and products

• Corporate social responsibility

• Reflecting local communities

Workshop 1: Understanding the needs of people with disabilities – 19^th September 2024, 10am-3pm at Unipart Conference Centre, Unipart House, Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2PG

In this first workshop, we welcome you to discuss what working with disabled people can mean to you and your business. During this session we will work with you to break down the barriers, stereotypes and misconceptions that may be held with the aim to empower you to feel more comfortable and confident when working with people with disabilities. We will also cover what support is available to you as employers, from giving someone work experience to having a diverse workforce, covering a range of pathways. We strongly believe that employment is for everyone and you, as an employer, are a valued and integral customer for employment pathways, who also has support requirements.

 Workshop 2: Working with people with disabilities – 6^th November 2024, 10am – 3pm at Blackbird Leys Technology Campus, City of Oxford College, Cuddesdon Way, Oxford, OX4 6HN

In this second session we will be joined by local employers and providers who currently work with and support people with disabilities. We will hear from these employers and providers to learn more about the different employment pathways and opportunities to employ and support people with disabilities. We will build on the conversations and plans from the previous workshop and support you to come up with actions to take back to your workplace.

Where possible, we would like the same person to attend both sessions. Sign up by completing this form

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Eleanor – eleanor.gordon-martin@oxfordshire.gov.uk