The Government’s Work and Health Unit has approved £465,000 of funding for the LEP to run a two-year project aimed at helping small businesses employ and retain more disabled people, and learn more about the support businesses need.
The Cornwall Work and Health Beacon Project is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to work with businesses to build their confidence to employ and retain people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, and ensure they have the right support and information available to them.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly there are almost 50,000 working age people whose day-to-day activities are limited by a long-term illness or disability.
This is more than 15% of the working age population, and well above the national average.
A Government-funded research project carried out by the LEP and the University of Exeter found that many local businesses lacked the confidence and knowledge to employ people with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
“We want to remove barriers to employment and address workplace health so that more people with disabilities and long-term illness can enter work, return to work, and remain in work,” said LEP Chairman, Mark Duddridge.
“We know that businesses can be nervous about hiring someone with a disability but at the same time have trouble finding the skills they need. So, we want to change behaviours and build confidence because an inclusive workforce is good for the individual, good for the economy and good for business.”
The Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health, and Truro and Falmouth MP, Sarah Newton, added: “The positive links between work and health are well proven and the Government is committed to getting more disabled people into work. The LEP has already done some excellent work in this area and our hope is that this project can be a model for other regions to follow.”
