The chief executive of notfor-profit organisation Purple says the government ’ s re-launch of its Disability Confident scheme is providing businesses with the opportunity to relook at disability differently and help them access the disability market , or ‘ Purple Pound ’, which is worth £ 212bn a year to the UK .

The Disability Confident scheme aims to support the government ’ s overall strategy to reduce the disability employment gap . It has been running since 2013 and was re-launched by the minister for disabled people Penny Mordaunt MP last November .

However , ahead of the re-launch Purple carried out research revealing almost a third of businesses ( 29 per cent ) are uncertain about how to become involved in the scheme while a further 30 per cent have not yet heard of it .

While the scheme has had some success before now with several hundred companies across the UK signing up to the initiative , Purple believes businesses require more practical advice and guidance to transform their workplaces . To support businesses , achieve Disability Confident accreditation , and the commercial benefits of doing so , Purple has recently launched a bespoke offer into the marketplace .

Chief executive of Purple , Mike Adams , said : “ It ’ s unacceptable that in 2016 , being disabled makes you twice as likely to live in poverty . Just 49 per cent of the UK ’ s 11.5m disabled people are currently in work , compared to 82 per cent of non-disabled people . This has a real impact on the quality of life of disabled people , as well as on the British economy , which is providing financial support rather than receiving incoming funds through taxable earnings .

“ Business is finally starting to realise the benefits of having a diverse workforce with the ‘ Purple Pound ’ in the UK worth £ 212bn a year . The re-launch of Disability Confident is

It ’ s unacceptable that in 2016 , being disabled makes you twice as likely to live in poverty

a golden opportunity for business to become ‘ purple ’ and access this lucrative market through inclusive employment strategies .”

Purple ’ s research previously found almost half of UK businesses ( 45 per cent ) are apprehensive about hiring someone with a disability because of fears they won ’ t be able to do the job .

It is now working with business to combat these misconceptions and develop inclusive employment strategies .

Purple also simultaneously works with disabled people offering employment support , as well as a specialist recruitment portal matching skilled disabled workers with employers . The organisation aims to help more than 20,000 disabled people to find permanent jobs over the next decade .

For more information on Purple and the research findings , or to download its Disability Confident brochure for business , go to www . wearepurple . org . uk