Warwick University Study

The Business Case for the Employment of Disabled People

Nottingham City Council, along with a large private sector organisation, was part of a two year research project looking at the business case for the employment of disabled people.

The study, which began in January 2004 and finished in December 2005, was conducted by Warwick University Business School and funded by the European Social Fund.

Over the two years the researchers conducted over 150 taped interviews with disabled and non disabled senior managers, line managers and employees from across the authority, as well as using data provided by our HR data base (Delphi).

Although the final report found that Nottingham City Council “seems to be making more progress towards removing differences between disabled and non disabled employees than the private sector organisation”*, it also highlighted some areas where significant work is still required.

In 2002 the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) Report led to action being taken across the authority to try and alleviate the adverse impact of our employment procedures on Black and Minority Ethnic employees. In a similar way we are committed to using the results of this study to improve the culture of our organisation for the benefit of current and future disabled employees.

As part of the changes to the Disability Discrimination Act, which took effect in 2005, Nottingham City Council has produced a Disability Equality Scheme which runs from 2006-2009. Similar to the Race Equality Scheme, this document is a three year action plan that clearly states what actions the authority will be taking to promote disability equality in both service provision and employment. We have a statutory duty to publish our Disability Equality Scheme, which means disabled people will be able to monitor the authority’s progress against all stated actions; therefore, the authority has embedded actions in its Disability Equality Scheme to address the findings of the Warwick University Study.

Click here to view an overview of the final findings of the Business Case for the Employment of Disabled People.

To find out more and to view the Disability Equality Scheme 2006-2009 please click here

*Dr A Danieli, The Business Case for the Employment of Disabled People: Summary Report (Jan 2006), p.17

Institute For Employment Studies (IES)

In 2002, the Institute of Employment Studies was commissioned to carry out a study of employment procedures in the City Council.

They found that Black employees were disproportionately affected by those procedures, and recommended a series of actions to improve equality in employment procedures.

Download IES full report (Word)

Download IES full report (PDF)