More must be done to lift the barriers preventing disabled people from getting into work, delegates at a major event in Fife have been told.
The Employ with Confidence event, which was held at the Vine Conference Centre in Dunfermline, was organised by Opportunities Fife in partnership with Shaw Trust Scotland to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people who are eager to work and have the desired skills and talents.
The conference, which organisers described as a “reverse jobs fair”, also saw the launch of the Disability Confident campaign, which aims to halve the disability employment gap and create opportunities for all.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Dunfermline, said she was delighted to launch the event, the first of its kind in Scotland, and suggested good progress is being made towards getting more disabled people into work.
“Nearly one in five people of working age in Scotland are disabled, yet historically there has been a significant gap between the proportion of disabled people employed compared with non-disabled people,” she explained.
“The Scottish Government is firmly committed to equality for disabled people, and to creating a Scotland that is fair and inclusive to all.
“With employment support services soon to be devolved to Scotland, we can deliver these services in a better way, helping disabled people into suitable and sustainable employment whilst ensuring that the principles of fairness, dignity and respect are at the heart of any support programme.”
The event was one in a series of similar events that form part of the nationwide Disability Confident campaign.
Led by Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson, it exists to highlights the benefits to businesses of recruiting disabled people and how employers can achieve this.
The campaign also aims to address misconceptions about disabled people in the work place and highlights the benefits of hiring them.
He added: “Good progress has been made, but I still hear too often that disabled people feel they are being overlooked for jobs they have the skills for.
“We all have a part to play in making sure disabled people are able to fulfil their potential in the workplace.”
His thoughts were echoed by Roger Mullin, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, who threw his support behind the drive.
“There are many reasons why employing people with disabilities and ongoing health conditions is a great idea, and I fear that employers up and down the country are missing out on talented and experienced individuals because they are apprehensive about what employing someone with a disability or health condition might entail,” he concluded.
