Forth Valley College has received Disability Confident accreditation, further enhancing its reputation as an inclusive and progressive employer.
To meet the criteria the college had to achieve several core aims including: actively looking to attract and recruit disabled people, providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process and offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.
The college then undertook and successfully completed the Disability Confident self-assessment, took all of the core actions to be a Disability Confident employer and offered at least one activity to get the right people for their business and at least one activity to keep and develop their people.
FVC are now among the first colleges to attain Disability Confident accreditation and the recognition comes less than a year after Forth Valley College was officially accredited as a UK Living Wage Employer.
The UK Government Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, Penny Mordaunt, said:
“It’s great that Forth Valley College has signed up to be Disability Confident. Being Disability Confident means breaking down the barriers which for too long have held disabled people back, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed in life.
“Over the last three years nearly 600,000 disabled people have entered work, but there is more to do to halve the disability employment gap. Employers must ensure they don’t miss out on some of the best talent in their community. Disabled people make up a significant proportion of the potential workforce and by extending these opportunities, we can have a Britain that works for everyone.”
Andrew Lawson, Associate Principal, Forth Valley College, said:
“We are delighted to become a Disability Confident employer and are very proud of the commitments we have made in achieving this.
“Forth Valley College believes it is essential for organisations to treat staff well and commit to conditions that reflect how much they are valued and respected. We are committed to the ethos that Forth Valley College is a mature, professional, progressive, forward thinking and innovative place to work.”
Steve Still, Head of Human Resources at Forth Valley College, said:
“It is a pleasure to work for an organisation that puts inclusivity at the top of its list of priorities and this is just one of the reasons why Forth Valley College is a sector leader in Scottish further education. I am very proud at how committed staff and colleagues throughout the college have been to help us attain this important accreditation.”