Finding an employer that will welcome you as you are, can sometimes feel like an enormous task. Fortunately, the world of employment has evolved and although not perfect, it is a much more supportive place than ever before. Many employers have staff networks and schemes to recruit a more diverse workforce, quite rightly believing that this is the way to improve and strengthen their organisation.
This page will help you find out how you are protected by the law () and the specialist organisations and schemes able to support your job search, applications and opportunities available to you in addition to the support provided by the University’s Careers Team. If you do not have a disability but concerned you may face discrimination in recruitment (due to, for example, your ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation) scroll down for the section on ‘Inclusivity’ where you will find a list of organisations that will offer specific advice and support including schemes designed to recruit employees from under-represented areas.
Please note: Legally, everyone is protected by law and therefore has the right to fair, non-discriminatory recruitment practices. These organisations and schemes are for those students who would like to explore any specialist support available. Please let us know if you find others that we could add to our list!
An employer must make sure disabled people will be able to apply for their vacancies. This includes asking disabled applicants whether they need any ‘reasonable adjustments’, often called ‘access requirements’, for any part of the recruitment process. An employer must not reject a disabled applicant because it would have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.
•Look for job adverts and application forms carrying the symbol or 'positive about disability' symbol. These show that an employer has signed up to commitments on disability and long-term health conditions.
•Check the employers’ website for a policy statement on equal opportunities and profiles of employees with a disability, including staff networks.
•Members of the and supporters of the ‘Charter for Employers who are Positive about Mental Health’ recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce. Both websites have a full list of supporting employers, including those from IT and telecoms, media, manufacturing, education, financial services and local government.
•Look out for employers with application forms that are available in alternative formats, and encourage applicants to say what adjustments can be made to help them during the recruitment process.
•Don't limit yourself to applying only to organisations that publicise their commitments to diversity. A lack of publicity doesn't mean they're not inclusive employers. Make your application based on the opportunities available and how those opportunities match your own skills and interests.
There are many organisations out there promoting opportunities for students and graduates who may feel discriminated in the workplace for one reason or another. We have tried to list the most relevant organisations that advertise either work experience and actual job vacancies or relevant advice. If you come across others that you think are useful, please let us know.
Deciding to disclose your disability to an employer is a matter of personal choice. You are under no legal obligation to do so, and it's for you to choose if and when you disclose. You may wish to disclose if you need any adjustments to help accommodate your disability, either at the application stage or during your day-to-day work.
Once you've told an employer about your disability, you're protected by the . This means your employer must take all reasonable steps to provide the necessary adjustments and mustn't discriminate against you because of your disability. You can also tell an employer about your disability once you have started to work for them, there isn’t a time restraint on this.
You are the expert in your disability and knowing what you need. Always emphasise the positive aspects of your disability and calmly deal with any stereotypical perceptions straight off.
The has produced some resources on disclosure and adjustments for students with neurodiversity conditions.
You can also check out website and these documents on psychometric tests and reasonable adjustments for neurodiversity.
Key Organisations
• promotes schemes and opportunities for students with disabilities including skills training sessions and can offer advice regarding disclosure and workplace adjustments. They work primarily with the larger graduate recruiters but will act as advocates for any disabled student or graduate struggling to get an employer to understand their needs. Check out their on activities and resources they can support with. The Careers Centre works closely with Employ-ability, look out for the webinars they run for 糖心Vlog students listed on .
• provides information and advice for students with a disability or long-term health condition. Discover information on applying for roles and attending the recruitment process. You'll also find the latest on your rights on disclosing a disability, requesting adjustments, requiring support, CV gaps, lack of work experience, etc. In addition to marketing their opportunities, employers include specific information about disability and the support they offer. Has index of disability friendly employers.
• are a charity that match students and graduates with other professionals with the same disability (or similar) to provide a mentoring relationship.
• provides skills training and supports disabled people in finding work or starting their own businesses. They advertise placements and graduate jobs.
• – Enna is a specialist recruitment agency that connects exceptional neurodivergent talent to neurodiversity friendly employers. Partners include; Monzo, Amazon, EY and Capita
• advertises thousands of career opportunities and vacancies from some of the UK’s largest employers including the BBC, Barclays, E.ON, J.P. Morgan, The UK Government, Bank of England and EDF Energy.
• are a collection of legal firms that welcome applications from graduates with disabilities.
Other organisations that might be of interest:
• provide advice on a range of disability issues, including careers. Offer internships and voluntary work
• – provide mentoring and funding for adults on the autistic spectrum
• – includes a jobs board
• – a Tech/IT focused social enterprise recruitment agency that recruits in the UK and abroad
• – an agency specialising in neurodiversity with a large jobs board, that works across many different job sectors
• - matching employers who value diversity with talented disabled candidates
• are a registered charity offering a skills register and access to services and products. Disabled individuals and organisations employing disabled people can register their details for FREE
• offers advice on employment, diversity, sex and race discrimination in the workplace, education, employment and civil rights issues as well as advice on tax, debt and housing.
• comprises people who stutter, employers and allies from many different countries and cultures. They have come together with a shared purpose to transform the world of work for 50 million people who stutter.
• – tools, graduate profiles and resources to help the transition from university into work
• – support blind and those with partial sight into employment
• - You can filter opportunities with employers who are disability confident who also run graduate schemes. Please note that some graduate schemes at Disability Confident employers will not be listed on Vercida.
• - Advertise jobs from companies with a transparent, diverse and inclusive recruitment strategy.
• - social enterprise with a mission to make the creative industries more inclusive. Advertises paid opportunities across the creative sector.
• - job listings for inclusive, creative jobs within the creative industry.
• - the BBC’s talent disability recruitment portal to apply for apprenticeships and trainee schemes.
• - provides information, advice and support to disabled people and people with long term health conditions, who run, or want to run, their own business.
The Government’s , is there to provide financial support for disabled employees who might require specific equipment (for example, specialist software, standing desk etc) or services (for example, taxis to work as public transport isn’t viable). It is certainly worth knowing some details about this scheme and being prepared to inform employers about the available support if they are concerned about additional costs.
• aims to offer 2000 internships a year, for 5 years, across many diverse employers and business sectors. The scheme opens in October for applications from students.
• are an organisation supports students from ethnic minority or low socio-economic backgrounds with their careers by offering mentors and works with over 50 sponsor firms across 8 areas of industry offering internships and graduate roles.
• is a business community for LGBT+ professionals and students who can connect with inclusive employers, find jobs, mentors, professional events and news
• advertises internships and job opportunities from organisations keen to develop their diversity in their workforce.
• is open to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, or with a disability or from an under-represented ethnic minority.
• advertises jobs and internships for disabled people wanting to work within the arts sector
• are a Think Tank aiming to improve social mobility through education. They offer an undergraduate programme supporting non-privileged law students during their studies.
• are a charity working to improve social mobility of young people from low income backgrounds by offering internships across many different industries.
• are a recruitment agency supporting students from ethnic minorities and/or disadvantaged backgrounds into employment with large graduate recruiters. They provide help for undergraduates and postgraduates.
• is a 9 month paid placements designed to open up parliament to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• : a registered charity that supports individuals from diverse backgrounds with personal development and leadership programmes. Also has links to some industries offering internships.
• campaigns for the equality of LGBTQA+ people across Britain, search their website for companies doing well with their diverse recruitment according to Stonewall.
• offer diversity courses for those from underrepresented communities. Take a look at these law diversity employability programmes.