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Our beginnings

Employers' Forum on Disability is now widely recognised as the authoritative voice on disability as it affects business. However, in the early 1980s UK, the government was mainly responsible for helping disabled people get work. The quota system, requiring three per cent of employees in an organisation to be registered disabled was virtually ineffective and government schemes to help disabled people into work took very little account of employer needs.

Establishment of Employers' Forum on Disability

In June 1986, with the backing of Business in the Community (BiTC), Employers' Forum on Disability was formed under the auspices of the Prince of Wales' Advisory Group on Disability with Susan Scott-Parker as its Director.

It consisted of five companies: the BBC, Pearl Assurance, Prudential Assurance, Shell International and Shell UK.

Here are some other key dates in the history of Employers' Forum on Disability

  • 1991 EFD acquires independent charitable status. Launch of ‘Disability etiquette'
  • 1992 ‘Employers' agenda on disability' launched by then prime minister John Major
  • 1993 Launch of ‘Welcoming disabled customers'
  • 1996 The Disability Discrimination Act comes into force
  • 1997 Launch of ‘Open for business', Briefing Papers and ‘Agenda on customers'
  • 1998 Launch of ‘Recruitment that works'
  • 1999 EFD's first website (www.employers-forum.co.uk) launched. Launch of the Police Disability Network, set up by EFD at the request of the Association of Chief Police Officers
  • 2004 EFD launches the Disability Standard, The world's first disability performance measurement tool. Launch of 'Disability Confident' resource, in partnership with Skill Boosters. Greater Manchester Police hosts the first conference of the Police Disability Network. ‘Designed for Living', EFD's biggest ever national event, attracts over 600 key figures from the worlds of business, disability and politics
  • 2005 Disability Standard 2005 results and benchmark report published
  • 2006 Barclays chief executive John Varley becomes President of EFD. Launch of ‘Realising Potential', the latest thinking on how disabled people contribute to business success. EFD's 2012 employers' network convened to deliver a barrier-free 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • 2007 The innaugural President's Group dinner is hosted by John Varley, Barclays chief executive in January. The Disability Standard 2007 takes place, with 116 participants from all business sectors. First chief executive's diamond awards also takes place, in London.
  • 2008 EFD relaunches its website - www.efd.org.uk