EFD Conference: Your key to disability confidence

13th June 2012, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Microsoft, London

Your key to disability confidence 

This year's conference brings you the latest advice and information on the disability-related issues affecting businesses today. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from our panel of business experts as well as the chance to take part in one of our three business critical workshops on welcoming disabled customers, graduate recruitment and managing mental ill-health in the workplace.

Why attend?

At this event you will: 

• Hear from leading brands Microsoft and Sainsbury's on the work they are doing to continue improving what they offer to disabled customers and employees through tough economic times.
• Get an update on the latest disability and Equality Act cases including proposed changes to the law.
• Be inspired by the experiences of disabled ex-service men and women.
• Have the opportunity to attend one of our training workshops on a wide range of disability topics.
• Meet many others working to improve their disbility policies and procedures for the benefit of business, disabled people and the wider workforce.

Key note speakers:

• Clare Ellis, Customer Experience Manager, Sainsbury’s
• Bela Gor, Legal Director, Employers’ Forum on Disability
• Theresa McHenry, UK HR Director, Microsoft
• Liz Rickaby, Director of Business Development, RBLI
• Susan Scott-Parker OBE, Chief Executive, Employers’ Forum on Disability

Workshops

A) Welcoming disabled customers

Our customer focused workshop highlights the key issues you need to consider when serving disabled people as your customers. Working in small groups, our trainers will challenge you to think about the range of ways customers access your organisation and the barriers they can face at each of these access points.

Speakers:

• Rick Williams, Managing Director, Freeney Williams Ltd
• Brendan Roach, Senior Disability Consultant, EFD

B) Graduate recruitment

This session will benefit those looking to ‘up their game’ to attract and recruit more disabled graduates to their business. Building on key work undertaken by EFD and its members, this workshop will highlight the real business potential of disabled graduates, where they look for jobs and the kinds of barriers that might turn them off approaching you as an employer.

Speakers:

• Helen Cooke, Director, My Plus Consulting
• Tracey Abbott, Recruitment Advisor, EFD

C) Mental ill-health

Often dubbed ‘the last taboo’ we will be exploring how mental ill health affects your staff and what you can to ensure you are giving the best possible support to both the individual and the line manager when making reasonable adjustments. EFD has joined forces with the Centre for Mental Health to provide you with the latest advice on this topic.

Speakers:

• Jan Hutchinson, Centre for Mental Health
• Kerry Smith, Senior Disability Consultant, EFD

Who should attend?

Customer service experts, talent and recruitment professionals, diversity and HR managers.