Disability confidence and support

Financial support to recruit or retain a member of staff with a disability

Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support grant scheme that aims to support disabled people start or stay in work. It can provide practical and financial support for people who have a disability or physical or mental health condition. Support can be provided where someone needs support or adaptations beyond reasonable adjustments. An Access to Work grant can pay for practical support to enable your employee to start or stay in work, or to support you if you are self-employed. Access to Work can be used for flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working.

Access to Work can support you to:

hire disabled people with the skills you need
retain an employee who develops a disability or health condition (keeping their valuable skills and saving both time and money recruiting a replacement)
show that you value and will support your employees by having good employment policies and practices

Your employee can get support with the extra costs of working they may have because of their disability or health condition, for example:

aid and equipment in the workplace
adapting equipment to make it easier for them to use
money towards any extra travel costs to and from work if they can’t use available public transport
money towards any extra travel costs for travel costs within work
an interpreter or other support at a job interview where there are difficulties in communicating
a wide variety of support workers
the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
other practical help at work, such as a job coach or a sign language interpreter

For full information about the scheme, eligibility criteria see: Access to Work factsheet for employers – GOV.UK

Could you be a Disability Confident employer?

The Disability Confident scheme supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to your workplace.

Disability Confident employers of all sizes are:

challenging attitudes towards disability
increasing understanding of disability
removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations

Why you should become Disability Confident

Being Disability Confident could help you discover someone your business just can’t do without.

Whether an employee has become disabled during their working life, or you’re looking for new recruits, being Disability Confident can help your people fulfil their potential and contribute fully to your team’s success.

By being Disability Confident, you’ll also be seen as leading the way in your business sector and beyond, helping to positively change attitudes, behaviours and cultures.

Disability Confident helps businesses:

draw from the widest possible pool of talent
secure and retain high quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
save time and money on the costs of recruitment and training by reducing staff turnover
keep valuable skills and experience
reduce the levels and costs of sickness absences
improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that they treat all employees fairly