Leading software and digital companies Microsoft, Barclays, and Fujitsu are some of the first global employers to sign up to The Valuable 500, a new disability inclusion commitment.
Operated by global business campaign #valuable, The Valuable 500 is a year-long global campaign encouraging 500 private sector employers to pledge their support to disability inclusion in their organisations.
#VALUABLE
Founder of #valuable, Caroline Casey explains: “It’s no longer good enough for [organisations] to say ‘disability doesn’t fit with our brand’ or ‘it’s a good idea to explore next year’. Businesses cannot be truly inclusive if disability is ignored on leadership agendas.
“I urge businesses to join The Valuable 500 movement to take a stand against being diverse-ish, and instead be the tipping-point for change, and unlock the business, social and economic value of disabled people across the world.
“We also need brands that are already great examples of inclusive behaviour to show other businesses how it’s done and help us end a la carte inclusion, because the potential of 1.3 billion should not be ignored.”
COMMITMENT
Launched on 24 January 2019 the campaign has already seen six global employers sign up. This includes pioneers in technology and software, Microsoft all the way to banks, including Barclays – who are already Disability Confident Employers.
Joining The Valuable 500 showcases that businesses are committed to placing disability inclusion into their board agenda in 2019.
Microsoft, has already started their 2019 off well in terms of inclusive employment. The organisation held a Disability Hiring Event on 23 January, ahead of signing up to the #valuable campaign.
Partnering with a range of experts, such as AXSChat, Business Disability Forum, EY, ILo GBDN, Purple Space, The Marketing Society and more, The Valuable 500 is set to bring disability employment into the forefront of a company’s mind.
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