AN MP who employs someone with multiple health conditions has urged Government to do more to help disabled people into work.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said the Access to Work scheme, which supports disabled people get in to work or stay in work, must be more widely advertised to ensure employers were not missing out on talents disabled people could offer.
Speaking in Parliament he said: “I recently hosted a Disability Confident event in Baildon in my constituency, and as somebody who employs someone with multiple disabilities I know that many workforces are losing out on a huge pool of talent.
“Can I therefore urge the minister to more widely advertise the benefits of Access to Work so we can get even more disabled people into work.”
Disability Minister Sarah Newton said Access to Work was a fantastic scheme helping record numbers of people.
She added: “We will continue to do everything we can to make sure disabled people can work. I congratulate him on his personal leadership in the constituency and for employing a disabled person and on drawing on all the talent that our nation has to offer.”
Government want to see an additional 1 million disabled people in work by 2027 and its free employer membership scheme Disability Confident supports local employers attract, recruit and develop the talents of disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
Last month’s Disability Confident event organised by Mr Davies was sponsored by Barclays Bank and saw dozens of employers come and learn from other companies in the area who have experience in working with disabled employees.
Government help is available to businesses who take on workers with health conditions or physical disabilities. According to research 73 per cent of employers who made work-related adjustments said it was easy to do so.