Enterprise Minister to Launch Scottish Disability and Business Awards
Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather MSP urges Scottish Businesses to back Scottish Disability and Business Awards 2007
The sixth annual Scottish Disability and Business Awards, presented by Leonard Cheshire in association with Edinburgh law firm Gillespie Macandrew, are launched today (26 June) at the Scottish Parliament by new Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP, to recognise businesses in Scotland that demonstrate the best practice, inclusion and equality for disabled employees and customers.
The awards are open to all business in Scotland, whose core activity is not directly connected with disability. Winning businesses will be presented with an award at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry's annual gala dinner in November 2007.
Previous winners include; HBOS, West Lothian College, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Highlands & Islands Film Commission and Ardgarth Guest House.
Jim Mather MSP, speaking on the launch of the awards said:
"The Scottish Disability and Business Awards motivates the business community - in relation to their own staff, to the value of having a diverse workforce and to the benefits to business of an accessible and inclusive approach. Fairness and productivity go hand in hand."
"The Awards promote good practice to motivate employers and ensure that disabled people have equal access to work, to business opportunities and to services. I look forward to hearing how businesses in Scotland are rising to this important challenge."
Director of Leonard Cheshire Scotland, Stephen Neale, said:
"Today, more and more businesses are recognising that disabled people are valued employees and customers in their community. The awards were created to acknowledge businesses which operate best practices to promote inclusion and equality for disabled people, while also encouraging others to follow these practices."
"There are real benefits both economically and socially in making your business open and accessible to all. We must remember disability is everyone's business therefore I hope these awards go some way to engage both businesses and the public at large about disability issues."
"It's true to say that small changes taken by business to reduce barriers does make a big difference to disabled people's everyday lives.
"We warmly welcome the Enterprise Minister's support for our awards and look forward to working with the Executive in the near future."
Derek McCulloch, Head of Corporate & Business Law at Gillespie Macandrew LLP said:
"With the award in its sixth year now, we expect numerous quality submissions making the judging process increasingly challenging. Last year's winners all showed significant commitment to meeting the needs of their disabled customers and staff and we hope that other such organisations will recognise the value in doing so and follow suit."