West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has today (9 March) launched a major new support package for employers aimed at closing the disability employment gap and boosting the region’s productivity.
The initiative is part of a £37 million partnership with the NHS designed to help businesses recruit and retain staff with health conditions and disabilities. Central to the offer is the “Healthy Working Life” programme, which provides fully funded training and a comprehensive digital toolkit to help local firms adopt more inclusive workplace practices.
At least 250 training places are being made available to West Yorkshire employers. These sessions, available both online and in person, focus on practical tools for making workplace adjustments, improving staff wellbeing, and reducing turnover.
Accompanying the training is a new “one-stop-shop” toolkit. Developed in response to feedback from business leaders who found existing guidance too fragmented, the hub offers legal advice, step-by-step recruitment support, and video case studies from local employers.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“West Yorkshire cannot reach its economic potential while thousands of talented people remain locked out of work through no fault of their own.
“With this new training and toolkit for employers, we’re building a fairer, stronger economy where businesses are enabled to become more productive, and people are empowered to secure new jobs and support their families.”
The push comes as research shows that businesses with strong diversity and inclusion practices can see up to 19% higher revenues. Furthermore, halving the disability employment gap across the UK could add an estimated £17 billion to the national economy.
In addition to the training, businesses are being offered a graduate recruitment grant of £1,800 to help grow local talent.
The announcement precedes a meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority this Thursday (12 March), where leaders are expected to approve further funding for ‘Employment West Yorkshire’. Over the last two years, this programme has already helped nearly 17,000 people overcome barriers to finding work through CV support and interview preparation.
Future plans also include the “West Yorkshire Promise,” a guarantee of employment support for every young person aged 14-24 in the region, ensuring that the next generation of workers has a fair chance to flourish regardless of their background or health status.
Employers interested in the fully funded training or the new inclusive recruitment toolkit are encouraged to visit the Combined Authority website for more information.
