Award category: Inclusive Workplace

This award recognises an organisation that has created an inclusive place of work. This could be through a commitment to hiring and supporting disabled colleagues. It could be creating inclusive policies, or tackling disability inclusion in the workplace and outside of it.

Winner

Ralph & Katie production team / ITV Studios

The two stars of Ralph and Katie, Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy, pose with a clapperboard,

Ralph & Katie production team / ITV Studios

The BBC prime television series Ralph & Katie changed perceptions about disability. Both in its content and working practices. It set new standards in the TV industry for recruitment, training, and production methods.  Producer Jules Hussey and director Jordan Hogg emphasised that everyone should say what they need to work to their potential.

Recruiting and supporting disabled employees and trainees was required of all departments. Six deaf, disabled, neurodiverse and autistic trainees worked across the project. Inclusivity was embedded throughout the production.

Nominees in this award category

BBC Wales

Disabled trainees smile for the camera in front of a green screen at BBC Wales.

BBC Wales

BBC Wales committed to a year-long Talk Disability campaign. This included delivering inclusive language training sessions for all staff and making sure disabled people can contribute more across all platforms.

Central to the commitment was the launch of traineeships for disabled people, created in partnership with Disability Wales. Four trainees completed eight-week placements in the heart of BBC Wales. This led to some trainees working as freelancers after their traineeship finished or taking on fixed term contract roles.

Marks and Spencer Health & Wellbeing Network

Two images of the M&S Health and Wellbeing team. In one, they are sat facing a speaker. In the second, they are stood smiling at the camera.

Marks and Spencer Health & Wellbeing Network

M&S’s Health and Wellbeing Network has made significant progress in championing disability equality. They have grown the network to over 2500 colleagues. The network helps to make M&S a more inclusive place to work. For example, they have supported in the creation of accessibility guidelines. And helped shape M&S’s disability strategy.

The network prides itself on creating connections across M&S. The online community allows users to share lived experience. And events help tackle real life problems for customers and colleagues.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The EDI team smile for the camera.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Partnership have appointed a dedicated Inclusive Recruitment Advisor. This role has reviewed their recruitment and selection processes. They also have an Inclusive Recruitment Library made available to all staff.

They appointed an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Project Manager. This role has led on a successful partnership with Scope. This is set to continue into 2024 thanks to renewed funding. Other innovations include a centralised reasonable adjustments fund to pay for adjustments. The fund also pays for dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia assessments.

Taking Flight Theatre Company

Actors on stage in a production by Taking Flight Theatre Company.

Taking Flight Theatre Company

Taking Flight is a Welsh theatre and inclusive access advisory company. Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people are at the heart of everything they do. They hear and champion the lived experience of staff, volunteers, and audiences. Onstage, backstage, and in the office.

They work towards equal representation of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in theatre. Access is integral to all performances. Audio description is written into scripts and BSL is included in every show. This enhances the entire creative process.

Judges of this award category

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Scope is a registered charity (no. 208231)