Business leaders, including MyPlus CEO and Founder Helen Cooke have backed a call for the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter to Boris Johnson, business leaders including Post Office CEO, Nick Read, Schroders CEO, Peter Harrison, Clifford Chance Global Managing Partner and Matthew Layton, have all urged him to deliver an ambitious and transformative disability plan that ensures all disabled people are able to realise their full potential.
The letter is supported by the CSJ Disability Commission, an independent body, which on the 23rd of March published “Now Is The Time”, a ground-breaking new report designed to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy.
Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair, says, “Disabled people have been waiting an awfully long time for this. We really hope the Prime Minister will listen and build our recommendations into his upcoming National Strategy for Disabled People. As the PM has said, his strategy is a once in a generation opportunity. It is vital that we seize it and chart a new course that is more than just warm words. Now is the time for action.”
Business leaders have called on the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter, over a dozen senior business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to keep his promise to make it the most ambitious disability plan in a generation and to consider the CSJ Disability Commission’s ground-breaking new report.
Agreeing with the PM that there should be no barriers to anyone realising their full potential, they have explicitly linked the success of the Strategy to his flagship levelling-up agenda, which promises to increase opportunity across the UK. In the letter, the signatories say, “disabled people have waited long enough and now is the time for action”. They urge the PM to show in his strategy that he has given careful consideration to the Commission’s recommendations and say, in return, “we stand ready to play our part”.’
Disabled people have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus according to the ONS and concerted action by Government and business is crucial to reducing the disability employment gap, which has widened as a result of the pandemic. Currently, just 52 per cent of disabled people are in employment compared with 81 per cent of non-disabled people.
The CSJ Disability Commission makes five key recommendations to reduce the gap:
Increasing supported routes into employment
Introducing mandatory employment and pay gap reporting
Leveraging Government procurement
Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme
Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme
The CSJ Disability Commission is chaired by disabled Conservative member of the House of Lords, Kevin Shinkwin and comprised of both disabled and non-disabled members from the business, disability and parliamentary world. Helen Cooke CEO and Founder of MyPlus was asked to join as a Commissioner in early 2020 and has been working with the other Commissioners to develop the recommendations outlined in the Commission’s report.
Lord Shinkwin says, “The Prime Minister’s strategy represents a once in a generation chance to chart a new way forward where disabled people’s potential to contribute, compete and, in some cases, excel and reach the top of their professions, on merit, can at last be realised. We have one shot at this - that’s why it’s so important his strategy gets it right. What makes this even more exciting is that big business is ready to get behind him”
The Commission’s report is especially relevant now as data reveals that disabled people have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic – in physical health, mental health, and economically – compared to non-disabled people. Importantly, the report extends beyond employment to cover four other areas of life for disabled people: transport, education, housing, and access to goods & services. It makes extensive policy recommendations which, if enacted, would substantially increase the ability of disabled people to participate more fully in society and realise their potential.
The full report is available to view on the Centre for Social Justice’s website.
