UK businesses have the chance to access £212bn disability market. By disability champion Mike Adams OBE, CEO of Purple, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to reducing the levels of inequality between disabled and non-disabled people

A golden opportunity to access the £212bn annual disability market through the government's Disability Confident scheme.

Mike Adams CEO of Purple said "the government's re-launch of its Disability Confident scheme is providing businesses with the opportunity to relook at disability differently and help them access the disability market, which is worth £212bn a year to the UK".

The Disability Confident scheme aims to support the government's overall strategy to reduce the disability employment gap. It has been running since 2013 and was re-launched by the minister for disabled people Penny Mordaunt MP last November.

However, ahead of the re-launch, Purple carried out research revealing almost a third of businesses (29%) are uncertain about how to become involved in the scheme while a further 30% have not yet heard of it.

While the scheme has had some success before now, with several hundred companies across the UK signing up to the initiative, Purple believes businesses require more practical advice and guidance to transform their workplaces. To support businesses achieve Disability Confident accreditation, and the commercial benefits of doing so, Purple has recently launched a bespoke offer into the marketplace.

Mike Adams said: "It's unacceptable that in 2016 being disabled makes you twice as likely to live in poverty. Just 49% of the UK's 11.5m disabled people are currently in work, compared to 82% of non-disabled people. This has a real impact on the quality of life of disabled people, as well as on the British economy, which is providing financial support rather than receiving incoming funds through taxable earnings.

"Business is finally starting to realise the benefits of having a diverse workforce with the disability sector in the UK worth £212bn a year. The re-launch of Disability Confident is a golden opportunity for business to access this lucrative market through inclusive employment strategies."

Purple's research previously found almost half of UK businesses (45%) are apprehensive about hiring someone with a disability because of fears they won't be able to do the job. They are now working with business to combat these misconceptions and develop inclusive employment strategies.

Purple also simultaneously works with disabled people offering employment support, as well as a specialist recruitment portal matching skilled disabled workers with employers. The organisation aims to help more than 20,000 disabled people to find permanent jobs over the next decade.

For more information on Purple and the research findings, or to download its Disability Confident brochure for business, go to www.wearepurple.org.uk [1]

Mike is the CEO of Purple. In 2013 he chaired the national Access to Work Expert Advisory Panel, which produced over 20 recommendations to modernise the government's flagship disability employment programme.
His previous working track record includes being one of the senior management team at the Disability Rights Commission, director of the National Disability Team for higher education and co-director of a disability research centre at Coventry University.
In 2012 Mike was awarded an OBE for his services to disabled people.