Disability Confident Scheme: Delighted to be a Member
At Swarm Training, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive at work, no matter what challenges they face. That’s why we’re delighted to announce that we’ve joined the Disability Confident scheme.
Our membership in the Government's Disability Confident scheme is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible workplace. At Swarm Training, every individual’s strengths are valued.
What Is The Disability Confident Scheme?
The Disability Confident scheme is a UK Government initiative designed to encourage businesses to improve how they recruit, train, retain, and support employees with disabilities or health conditions. It launched in November 2016, replacing the 'Two Ticks' scheme.
Designed by employers and disability inclusion experts, the Disability Confident scheme was created to support businesses, long term, empowering them to be confident in attracting, recruiting, developing, and retaining disabled people in the workplace. A business joins the scheme at entry level 1, Disability Confident Committed (like us). As their confidence increases, they then progress to the second level, which is a Disability Confident Employer, and eventually the 3rd level, which is a Disability Confident Leader.
What are the benefits of being a member of the Disability Confident Scheme?
Becoming a member of the scheme benefits us as a business in the following ways:
Enhanced Reputation: Becoming part of the Disability Confident scheme demonstrates that our company is proactive and caring, improving our reputation and brand.
Extending The Talent Pool: By being part of the scheme, we have a far wider range of talented, prospective employees to choose from.
Higher Employee Retention: It is a known fact that businesses, like ours, that are inclusive and supportive generally have higher employee satisfaction and retention rates.
Legal Compliance: With the extra support the scheme offers, we will confidently remain compliant with all disability discrimination laws and regulations.
How does the Scheme help Disabled People?
The Disability Confident scheme empowers people with disabilities to pursue their aspirations. With a registration of over 20,000 supportive companies, candidates have a pool of companies they can apply to. They will be confident in applying for positions, knowing that they will be able to reach their full potential with their new employer. Disabled employees working for a Disability Confident employer are reassured that their careers will thrive, thanks to a positive, inclusive approach to training and development.
What is Expected of a Level 1 Member?
A Disability Confident Committed employer (level 1) is a member for 3 years. The hope is that during these three years, a business will progress to level 2, a Disability Confident Employer.
By joining the scheme, we must adhere to the following 5 commitments:
1. Ensure your recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
We must ensure we have a fair, non-discriminatory recruitment process and make improvements where necessary. By using our Disability Confident badge, we can ensure that all potential candidates know we are an inclusive employer. Likewise, job adverts must be accessible, i.e., provided in a variety of formats, using simple language (no jargon or acronyms), listing only essential job requirements.
2. Communicate and promote vacancies
We must use a variety of media to advertise vacancies. By using a wide variety of communication channels, including disability press and social media sites, we must ensure that we use our badge to illustrate that we are an inclusive company. Naturally, Jobcentre Plus offers a range of recruitment services that we can also tap into.
3. Offer an interview to disabled people
Employers, like ourselves, must ensure that all applicants for a position are asked if they would like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme. Any disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirements outlined in the job description should then be offered an interview. This offers encouragement to disabled candidates to apply for job vacancies that they are interested in.
It is important to note here that as members of the scheme, we do not have to interview every single disabled applicant. As stated, they must meet the criteria outlined in the job description. When a situation arises where there are vast numbers of applications for a post, we need only to interview those disabled candidates who best meet the minimum job criteria, rather than everyone who meets it. Of course, this will be outlined in our recruitment policy and job vacancy adverts, as required by the scheme.
4. Anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as required
Irrespective of membership in the Disability Confident scheme, all employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. (You can find full details here.) The definition of 'reasonable' depends on a variety of factors, but these can include cost, practicality, and health and safety for everyone.
Adjustments can be anything from finding a different way to do something to providing equipment, services, and support. Consideration will, of course, be done on an individual basis.
5. Support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay at work
By supporting an existing employee, we are retaining a valuable asset to our company who is already highly skilled and experienced. In addition to this, we avoid additional recruitment and training costs that occur when finding a replacement.
It's Time to Take Action Too
In addition to the 5 commitments, a level 1 member of the Disability Confident scheme must identify at least one action that they will carry out to make a difference for disabled people. This can relate to work experience, recruitment, job shadowing, etc. Naturally, here at Swarm Training, we will be taking positive action to recruit disabled apprentices who best meet the minimum requirements of our partners.
Why It Matters to Us
Our mission has always been to support individuals in gaining skills and employment, regardless of their background or circumstances. Joining the Disability Confident scheme aligns perfectly with that mission.
Every person brings unique talents, experiences, and perspectives to the table. By embracing diversity, including disability, we strengthen our team, our services, and the communities we serve.
This recognition signals to current and future employees that Swarm Training is serious about inclusion, not just in words, but in actions.
What We've Done to Get Here
Achieving Disability Confident Committed status involved reviewing and strengthening our policies and practices. Some of the key actions we’ve taken include:
Making job applications accessible. We ensure that everyone has a fair chance, providing information in alternative formats when needed.
Offering tailored support. Whether it’s flexible working hours, adaptive technology, or modified workspaces, we work with our staff to remove barriers.
Training our team. Managers and staff are trained to understand disability inclusion and support colleagues in ways that are meaningful and respectful.
Listening to our employees. We regularly check in to understand what adjustments or support might be needed.
Looking Ahead
Joining the Disability Confident scheme is not the end of the journey, but the beginning. It’s a commitment to continually improve.
We are determined to keep learning, listening, and adapting to ensure that our workplace and apprenticeship recruitment remains a welcoming space for everyone. This is about doing what’s right for our employees, our learners, and our wider community.
Join Us
If you’re looking to work with an organisation that values you for who you are and supports you to achieve your best, take a look at our current vacancies here or reach out to chat about opportunities.
At Swarm Training, we believe that work should be a place where everyone has the chance to shine. Our commitment to being Disability Confident is just one way we’re putting that belief into action.