The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has launched a new campaign to encourage more retail employers to sign up to its trailblazing “Disability Confident” employer scheme, to increase the number of disabled people in the workforce. The government aims to see one million more disabled people in work by 2027.

Around 123,000 vacancies currently exist in the retail and wholesale sector, and the government believes retailers should “realise the benefits of employing disabled people”.

The Disability Confident employer scheme was launched in November 2016 and it provides employers with the skills, examples and confidence they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees and those with health conditions. The scheme was developed with employers, disability charities and disabled people and it has three levels. Employers must complete each level before moving on to the next. Over 5,000 employers have so far signed up to the scheme.