Placing and developing talented disabled graduates

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Placing and developing talented disabled graduates

• Chris Sherwood and Kenny Borland

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Introduction to the day

• This workshop includes
• An introduction to Scope
• An introduction to the issues surrounding
  disabled leaders
• A perspective from a current Leadership Recruits
• An introduction to Leadership Recruitment
• A perspective on in-work development
• An opportunity to ask questions

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Our mission is to drive the change to make our
society the first in which disabled people
achieve equality.
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• Founded in 1952
• A leading national pan-disability organisation in
  England and Wales
• Leading campaigning organisation through our Time
  to Get Equal Campaign to achieve equality for
  disabled people
• Significant provider of services for disabled
  people
• Led by the lived experience of disabled people
• One third of management team and 21 of staff are
  disabled people

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• Scopes Employment Services
• 592 place national WORKSTEP contract
• Work Preparation programme in north and south
  Wales
• Pathways to Work sub-contractor in Sussex/Surrey
• Leadership Recruitment
• Training and consultancy service

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What is the picture like?

• 50 of disabled people of working age are in the
  workplace
• Employment rates amongst disabled graduates (76)
  are substantially lower than non-disabled
  graduates (90)
• Disabled people more likely to be paid less and
  occupy less senior or technical positions
• Can you name any disabled leaders?

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Why is this the case?

• De-selecting culture
• Inflexible organisational culture
• Institutionalised barriers in the education
  system
• Employer attitudes
• Disclosure
• Reasonable adjustments
• Lack of organisational leadership
• Lack of role models
• Lack of support and networking opportunities

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Introduction to Leadership Recruitment

• A unique route to a talented pool of disabled
  graduates
• Over 15 years experience of recruiting, placing
  and developing talented disabled individuals
• Flexible model of service, tailored to your
  business practices
• A comprehensive recruitment process to ensure
  that you secure the right individuals
• Access to wealth of expertise around managing
  disability in the workplace

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A perspective from Kenny Borland, Leadership
Recruit at the Open University
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How does Leadership Recruitment work?

• Four stage recruitment process
• All candidates are profiled to support job
  matching Typically a 12-month placement
• Placement type
• Direct hire model
• Support from a dedicated Leadership Recruitment
  Coordinator

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Assessment Centre

• Competencies
• 7 areas of competency assessed through 4
  assessment activities
• Presentation
• Interview
• Case study
• Negotiation

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Competency framework

• Assessing skills, knowledge and behaviours
  around
• Planning and organising
• Influencing
• Communication and inter-personal skills
• Business / social awareness
• Team work
• Initiative and leadership
• Analysis and problem solving

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In-work support

• Support around making reasonable adjustments
• Disability Equality Training available for line
  managers
• All candidates have a Development Plan
• Regular Performance Development Reviews
• Access to Scopes Leadership Development
  programme

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In work leadership development

• Structured development training
• Action learning
• Mentoring
• Executive coaching
• Peer support networks
• Utilise internal development programmes

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A partnership with employers

• Employer partners include
• Lehman Brothers
• BT
• The Open University
• Welsh Assembly Government
• Capital One

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What are the benefits?

• High profile programme
• Access to a unique and untapped pool of talent
• Support to grow talent in your organisation
• Opens up doors for disabled people, which are
  often closed
• Opens up a new recruitment route for employers

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The Economist reported in May that the average
time to reach the top is falling. The average
time from a first job to becoming chief executive
is currently 24 years1. Considering the
barriers that we have considered in this
presentation what would the average time for
disabled people be.?