FIVE REASONS WHY BUSINESSES SHOULD DEVELOP DISABILITY AWARENESS

There are numerous benefits that disability awareness training will bring to your business. Here, Chris Jay- the Managing Director of Bascule Disability Training- gives Team BRIT readers five...

Did you know that the spending power of people with disabilities continues to increase and is currently estimated to be worth £274 billion per year to UK businesses? Gaining disability awareness is the first step in making a change, and with a few basic alterations to the way you operate, your business could appeal to a whole new market.

Developing your awareness of disability will not only increase your appeal to a whole new customer base- it will also attract a whole new group of talented staff members. Becoming an openly inclusive organisation will clearly demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity, as both an employer and a business, which will inevitably improve staff and customer loyalty.

If you feel your business is unaffected by disability, you might want to think again. There are 14.6 million people with disabilities in the UK (one in five), and vast numbers of people have what are known as non-visible disabilities- such as depression and mental health conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, sensory impairments, cognitive impairment, autism spectrum conditions- to mention just a few. So, it’s quite likely you already employ a team member with a disability, that you don’t even know about.

Furthermore, it is also worth considering that disability is something that can occur - in fact, only 17% of people are actually born with a disability, 83% acquire it later in life.

Being an inclusive organisation will allow the people who work for you to feel comfortable in disclosing their disability- as well as create a more understanding and empathetic workforce. If your company develops awareness and inclusivity, staff will be more likely to work to their full potential and bring their best selves to the workplace.

In a recent poll conducted by Scope it was revealed that 53% of people with disabilities have been bullied or harassed in the workplace because of their impairments. Also- 1 in 3 people see people with disabilities as being less productive than non-disabled people.

Raising awareness in the workplace will unify your team, develop understanding and empathy, whilst also encouraging those who haven’t ever disclosed their disabilities, to feel they can openly discuss them with their line managers and co-workers, should they want to.

In 2014, it was discovered that two-thirds of the British public (67%) admit they feel uncomfortable talking to people with disabilities (Scope). This means your customer or client facing staff could potentially display a sense of awkwardness to as many as one in five of your customers.

Awareness training directly addresses this, and a firmer understanding of all areas of disability - such as correct use of language, customer service, etiquette and communication- can be developed.

Upcoming open sessions can be found on www.bascule.com use the code ‘BRIT’ and receive 33% discount.

Being a Team BRIT sponsor comes with some pretty incredible perks that you won’t find in other partnerships. Over recent months, we’ve been out and about taking our sim and some of our cars to the offices of our sponsors for some funfilled visits with their staff and customers.

Team BRIT Commercial Director Mike Scudamore explains: “This is one of the best parts of my job. Whenever we agree a new deal with a sponsor or team partner, we look to over deliver by giving them the best possible experience in return for their support.

“It’s fantastic to see our partners making the most of these opportunities and one of the ways they can do this, is by inviting us along to their headquarters or offices for a visit with some of our team and our tech. Recently, we’ve taken our top-of-the range V-Rig racing simulator to some of our sponsor offices so that their staff, colleagues or clients can get their hands on the world-leading hand control technology that our disabled drivers use on the track.

“We also have opportunities to take our McLaren along for the extra wow factor and to give staff a real taste of the incredible work their organisation is helping to become a reality.

“At every visit, at least one of our drivers comes along to chat to staff, sharing more of their personal story and their experiences on the track so far. Every time we carry out these visits, we leave the place buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm for our team and everything we’re trying to do. For me – that’s the real impact of our partnerships – you can’t help but get really involved and behind our project when you see its impact through the effect it has on the people we support. To find out more about the opportunities available as part of a Team BRIT sponsorship, contact mike@teambrit.co.uk

Photography courtesy of Mark Ballantyne #MYODYSSEY

Al Locke, Race Engineer – Team BRIT

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