News

Practitioner Awards launched

04/05/18

BASE has started its search for 2018 award winners. Nominations are now open for 5 award categories:

  • Team of the Year
  • Practitioner of the Year
  • Innovation Award
  • Best Employer Practice
  • David Grainger Award

You'll find an information pack and nomination form at www.base-uk.org/awards

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Report on London's labour market outcomes

02/05/18

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published a report looking at labour market outcomes of Londoners with a work limiting condition or disability.

The employment rate for disabled people in London stands at 46.5% meaning that around 370,000 disabled Londoners are out of work. The equivalent for the non-disabled population stands at 85%, meaning that the disability employment gap in London stands at 38.5 percentage points, slightly lower than the national average of 41.5 percentage points.

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Costain seeks to engage with North East SMEs

01/05/18

The construction engineering company, Costain, is holding an engagement event in Durham on 30 May. They are looking to engage with new suppliers, SME’s and social enterprises. The scope of works will be typical construction engineering but will be a vast requirement for support services to the project.

There will be opportunities for BASE members to collaborate with Costain through their supply chain for the provision of services. Details are on the attached flyer.

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£1m to support Scottish employers

01/05/18

The Scotland First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced £1 million in new funding to support employers in recruiting disabled people.

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Assistive technology fund launched through Access to Work

27/04/18

The Minister for Disabled People has announced a new Tech Fund as part of Access to Work, offering employers significant savings on the cost of assistive technology. The announcement follows the Work and Pensions inquiry into assistive technology.

The cost of assistive technology required by disabled employees will now be waived for all employers under the new Tech Fund.

The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton, said:

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Government responds to critical PIP / ESA inquiry

23/04/18

The Work and Pensions Committee has published the Government's response to its inquiries into Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). 

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Assistive technology report published

20/04/18

The Work and Pensions committee has called on the Government to do more to promote the use of assistive technology (AT) to help more disabled people into work. Its report says it can help to close the disability employment gap and improve national productivity.

The report details how the technology can greatly help the employment prospects of people currently claiming benefits, and help them to control their home environments when it is integrated with computers, phones and gadgets.

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Civil Society consultation

20/04/18

Government has launched a consultation about civil society, what is working well, and what the government can do to strengthen it further. It is looking for ideas on how government can work with and support civil society to:

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Education Committee to look at SEND reforms

20/04/18

The Education Committee has announced an inquiry into support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The Committee is inviting written evidence on the following by 14 June 2018: 

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Consultation: Access to Work

13/04/18

BASE is launching a survey to gather the views and experiences of people using the Access to Work programme. There has been concern for some time about delays and bureaucratic requirements within the scheme. A couple of providers have told BASE that they have been asked to supply the employment contracts of individual staff members. The requirement for 3 quotes has long been a problem for employers and individuals who've sought support through the scheme and many taxi companies have refused to have anything to do with Access to Work because of payment delays.

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