Creating opportunities in your organisation
You can create opportunity in your business by giving workers:
- fair and equal access to work and progression
- an equal chance to succeed in their role
- a workplace culture where everyone can contribute
- training and development opportunities
How creating opportunity benefits your organisation
Creating more opportunities for workers can help reduce barriers to accessing work.
Research shows that inclusion leads to better innovation, creativity, productivity, reputation, engagement and business results.
Creating fair and equal access to work and progression can:
- help people start work or get back to work
- build a more diverse and inclusive workforce
- help existing workers grow their skills
- attract skilled, new talent for vacancies
- increase productivity, innovation and business performance
- improve retention and absence rates
- improve health and wellbeing
Example
Mercat Tours have used Fair Work principles to build a skilled, diverse workforce and become Scotland’s first Living Hours Employer.
A Living Hours Employer is a business who guarantees workers a minimum of 16 hours per week – if they want them.
“Offering training opportunities, paid internships and Skilled Visa sponsorship has resulted in a diverse and loyal team deeply connected to the success of the business.
With a retention rate of 72% and absence of less than 2%, our costs are minimised which guarantees the quality of experience for visitors and the team.” Kat Brogan, Managing Director at Mercat Tours
Find out how to become a Living Hours Employer on the Living Wage Foundation website.
Introducing more opportunity
You can offer more opportunities to workers by:
- ensuring training and development opportunities are accessible to everyone
- reviewing your recruitment process to ensure it’s inclusive to all candidates
- gaining accreditation for your business – for example, becoming a Disability Confident Employer
- introducing policies and practices that support workers with accessibility or cultural needs
-
creating apprenticeships, work experience or volunteering opportunities to help your workers learn new skills
Resources for creating an EDI strategy
Find out about making an equality, diversity and inclusion strategy for your business on CIPD.
Find out how you can support workers with accessibility needs and reasonable adjustments on the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) website.
Read the ‘Inclusive recruitment’ guide for employers on CIPD.
Read the 'Employer’s Guide to Inclusive Recruitment' on Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
Resources for business accreditation
Get information on becoming a Disability Confident employer on GOV.UK.
Get information on becoming a Living Hours Employer from the Living Wage Foundation.
Find out about the business benefits of supporting carers from Carer Positive.
Find out about the UK B Corporation (BCORP) movement and how it benefits workers and organisations.
Additional resources
Find out about recruiting and supporting older workers through the Centre for Aging Better.