University awarded Disability Confident Leader status
24 Jan 2024
We are one of 13 UK universities to be awarded Disability Confident Leader status
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded Disability Confident Leader status following our Disability Confident submission and its validation by the Business Disability Forum of which we are a member.
We are one of only three in the Russell Group and 13 UK universities to be awarded this status.
The Disability Confident scheme, accredited by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), helps employers recruit, retain and train great people. Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes about, and increasing understanding of, disability. There are three levels of the scheme with Leader being the highest.
Our Disability Confident Leader submission focused on the people we employ including staff, PGRs, apprentices, and those undertaking work experience and work placements. It also highlighted how we report our data and includes an ongoing commitment to annually report our Disability Pay Gap.
Our application
Our Disability Confident Leader application was based on evidence generated through conversations with colleagues in the Disabled Staff Network and across the University about their lived experiences and professional practice. We captured and reported on both positive and negative experiences and reflected these honestly in our submission.
Our application focuses on all three pillars of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy:
- Inclusive Environments and Cultures;
- Diversity and Equity in our community;
- Inclusive Practice.
We demonstrated how we strive to be disability-inclusive and endeavour to ensure our disabled colleagues feel that they belong, and that the University is a great place to work. We do however recognise that there is work to be done in achieving this.
This ambition can only be realised by working together to co-create actions that have clear targets and are aligned to Our future.
What next?
We are only at the beginning of our leadership journey and are taking this commitment very seriously. We will be using the comments provided by the Business Disability Forum to co-create a robust action plan.
Actions will be assigned to individuals enabling us to track progress and ensure accountability. We all have a role to play in eliminating discrimination and advancing disability equality.
If you would like to be a part of our revised Self-Assessment Team (SAT) and help us in our future work, please contact kathryn.bradley@manchester.ac.uk. We are looking for people representing all roles across the University, including student representation.
Nalin Thakker, Vice President for Social Responsibility
Jackie Carter, Professor of Statistical Literacy, University Academic Lead for Disability and Chair of the Disability Confident Self-Assessment Team
Banji Adewumi MBE, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Kathy Bradley, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner