FSB

Small businesses are urging the Government to “work with us to fix ‘utter injustice’ of poor disability employment”.

More than a million small business owners and sole traders are managing disabilities or health conditions on a daily basis, with a sizeable share reporting that they have been subject to discrimination or negative treatment, according to a recent study from FSB.

The new ‘Business Without Barriers’ report finds that more than half (51%) of small employers have employed someone they know to have a disability or health condition in the past three years.

Amongst small business owners who themselves have a disability or health condition, the share of those who would employ people they know to have disabilities or health conditions is even greater (66%).

Despite this, only 5% of small businesses have used the Government’s Access to Work scheme and fewer than one in ten (8%) disabled business owners have accessed local authority business support services – the share is half that of their non-disabled counterparts (16%).

A quarter of small business owners across the UK are managing a disability

FSB DISABILITY REPORT

or health condition on a daily basis, and close to one in four (24%) of these business owners report suffering discrimination or negative treatment.

In response to the findings, FSB is launching a 10-Point Plan for Disability and Entrepreneurship and a freely accessible resource hub on its website for small businesses.

FSB’s disability, health, and wellbeing policy chair, Julian John, said: “This 10-Point Plan – and the host of other recommendations we have made across Whitehall departments – shows how Government and business can work together to bring more disabled people into workplaces to the benefit of individuals, local communities and the economy as a whole.”

Louise Rubin, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Scope, said: “At Scope, we know that small businesses play a vital role in employing disabled people, as highlighted in this report.

“But it is clear that many small businesses need better support from Government if they are to increase the number of disabled people that come into - and thrive in - their organisations.”

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, added: “Employees with mental health problems face many barriers to accessing and staying in jobs suited to their individual skills and aspirations, and too often people fall out of work because they don’t get the support they need.

“We welcome this FSB report, particularly the recommendations around extending the types of medical professionals who can provide fit notes when people need time off sick and making sure employees who’ve been off sick are offered phased returns to work.”

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

Responding to publication of the Government’s planned measures around corporate accountability, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national chair, Martin McTague, said: “It’s good to see BEIS grasping the nettle on audit reform. As legislation is drawn up, the key to success will be making corporate Audit Committees directly responsible for reporting on payment and wider supply chain practice. “When we were the first group to flag the ramping up of unreasonable payment terms at Carillion, six months before the company collapsed, nothing was done. “In order for today’s measures to work, there must be inclusion of payment practices within Audit Committees’ remits. This reform would ensure a whole board awareness of payment practices. Without it, there will be more Carillions.

“Improving transparency at big corporates whilst easing unnecessary reporting burdens for small businesses is the right direction of travel. “It’s now a case of making sure the resulting Bill is fit for purpose as the legislative vehicle needed to make a real difference to late payments. We look forward to working with the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to ensure it does.”

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FREE BUSINESSWEBINARS

With virtual meetings and working from home remaining popular, FSB continues to host a lot of daytime online events and webinars which we would remind all stakeholders are open, free and inclusive to non-members as well as FSB members.

As not everyone can tune in live to such events, we are pleased to say we now have an ‘FSB On Demand’ service so that you can listen to a number of excellent webinars at a time that suits you. There are plenty to choose from and you can learn about issues such as marketing, finance, green initiatives, social media, ESG, change management and more.

It’s a great free service to businesses that aims to connect you to the advice and guidance you need, when you need it. To listen into any of our previous webinars – and see what other ones are coming up – please visit www.fsb.org.uk/skills-hub/on-demand