MMU has been awarded the highest Disability Confident Scheme status for demonstrating its commitment as a leader in disability employment.
Disability Confident is a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme that supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people bring to the workplace.
MMU Awarded Disability Confident Scheme Status
MMU was first awarded leader status in 2019 and recently succeeded in being awarded the highest level again, until 2025.
The renewal included an independently validated self-assessment explaining how MMU is demonstrating its commitment as a leader, a subsequent action plan to address areas it needs to develop and how it is publicly reporting on disability employment.
In several areas, the University was identified as demonstrating best practices within the sector, including:
- Data Reporting – for the first time ever, the University reported on its Disability Pay Gap in March 2022, which is beyond the statutory duty to report on the Gender Pay Gap.
- Capturing the Staff Voice – highlighting the work the Disabled Staff Forum does to ensure the disabled staff voice is captured, along with the work to raise the awareness of disability at Manchester Met through activities such as UK Disability History Month and International Day of Disabled People.
- Inclusive Recruitment – consistently offering reasonable adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process and offering an interview to all disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for any given job role.
- Bridging the Gap Programme – offering work experience to special educational needs students from Manchester. The programme, which has seen 70 students work with the University since it was introduced in 2011, returned this academic year for the first since COVID.
MMU Play Leading Role In Changing Attitudes
Professor Jenny Watling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor International at Manchester Met and Chair of the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Board, said: ‘We are incredibly pleased to have renewed our Disability Confident Leader Level status until 2025.
‘It’s an important piece of work that reinforces our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, specifically in relation to disability, mental health and neurodiversity.’
Being a leader of the scheme means the University plays a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. In line with Manchester Met’s Road to 2030 strategy and the new Inclusive and Diverse Culture strategy, the University will create a culture of belonging that promotes equality.
Pam Flynn, Chief People Officer at Manchester Met, said: ‘Ensuring that we recruit, retain and develop diverse talent is extremely important, and the recommendations drawn from our independent validation will allow us to further develop our recruitment processes to be even more inclusive for disabled people and once appointed, support retention and further development.
‘Finally, we would like to say a big thank you and well done to all the colleagues involved in the renewal submission, the work carried out will have an institution-wide impact for disabled people.’