Forsters secures Disability Confident Committed Certification

As part of its ongoing focus on inclusion in the workplace and commitment to minimising employment barriers for people living with disabilities, Forsters is proud to announce it has obtained the UK government's Disability Confident Committed Certification. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.

Championing inclusion is a core part of Forsters’ strategy, and the firm’s EnABLE committee develops and drives initiatives which support individuals with disabilities. Most recently this has included contributing to the design of Forsters’ new premises in London’s Marylebone by engaging a third-party consultant to review the building plans from a disability perspective. Key adjustments were made to ensure that accessibility was at the heart of the design of the new offices.

Additional actions Forsters has taken to obtain Disability Confident Committed Certification include:

• Promoting a culture of being Disability Confident and ensuring that all partners and employees have sufficient disability equality awareness including relevant training.
• Introducing a comprehensive Workplace Adjustments Policy, which standardises the process, making adjustments easily accessible for people with all types of disabilities.
• Forsters’ Talent team participating in training with MyPlus, a specialist disability consultancy, equipping them with enhanced knowledge and understanding of disability inclusion.
• Providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process with disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job being offered an interview.
• Being flexible when assessing people so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job.
• Supporting employees to manage their disabilities or health conditions.
• Ensuring managers are aware of how they can support staff who are sick or absent from work.
• Ensuring Forsters’ website is disability friendly.

Dearbhla Quigley, Chair of Forsters’ EnABLE committee, said:

“Our move to new offices in Marylebone is a major milestone for the firm and the fact that accessibility has been at the heart of its design is testament to the importance placed on creating an environment that works for all. The EnABLE Committee continues to seek out ways in which Forsters can be as supportive as possible to all of those with disabilities, whatever their form and however they are affected.”

Emily Exton, Forsters’ Managing Partner, added:

“People are at the heart of Forsters and securing Disability Confident accreditation is another stride towards ensuring access, equality and opportunity for all. Removing barriers to employment allows us to recruit and retain the best talent and is part of ensuring the kind of inclusive and diverse working environment which we know leads to provision of the highest levels of service to our clients.”