Manchester Metropolitan University is presented the Disability-smart award for Best Public Sector Organisation
London, UK – Today Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) were presented their Disability-smart award for Best Public Sector Organisation. The university has improved year on year in diversity and equality matters and have won the Disability-smart award, ranking silver in the Business Disability Forum’s Roll of honour. Susan Scott-Parker, Founder and CEO of Business Disability Forum, met with Josie Elson, Associate Director of HR: Valuing and Engaging People at MMU, to present the award.
The Disability Standard is an online management tool that monitors the accessibility of a business across 10 different criteria, covering everything from recruitment processes to internal ethos. Organisations work toward completing the Standard through implementing and showing examples of best practice.
Through working with their Equality and Diversity team, the Disabled Staff Forum and Disability Standard champions the university has been able to bring disability to the forefront. MMU also worked closely with their Student Union during their assessment, getting first-hand feedback from the university’s customer base and fostering even better student relations. Due to their continued efforts the university now boasts specially adapted rooms in the Halls of Residence, lecture theatres with hearing loops, fully accessible buildings and disabled parking.
These achievements have made MMU a benchmark for disability standards within their sector. By creating an open on going dialogue with external organisations, employees and students the university can now look at implementing future improvements in it’s facilities and IT. Watch this space.
Brendan Roach, Senior Disability Consultant and Information & Advice Manager said:
"We gave Manchester Metropolitan University our award for best public sector organisation because of its commendable cross-organisational commitment, supported by a well-structured Single Equality Scheme and action plan.
A culture of consultation and continuous improvement is an important feature of any disability-smart organisation and this is something that came across strongly in Manchester Metropolitan University’s submission. We really liked the positive can-do attitude apparent across the organisation, which included some great responses to unexpected situations from lecturers, facilities and canteen staff ".
Mona Patel, Equality and Diversity Officer: Valuing and Engaging People at Manchester Metropolitan University said:
“Attaining Silver in the Disability Standard assessment and winning Best Public Sector Employer are significant achievements for Manchester Metropolitan University of which we are immensely proud.
The self- assessment helped shape our Equality and Diversity Strategy 2014-16 and the content of the diagnostic report helped to refine the objectives that underpin the strategy.
MMU strives to make the University environment as inclusive as possible through consultation and continuous improvement. Both achievements are testament to the hard work of the E&D team, Disabled Staff Forum, Diversity Champions and other staff who have driven the agenda to make MMU a disability-smart organisation.”
Notes to editors
1. Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit business consortium that represents some 400 organisations that employ 20% of the UK workforce. Formerly called the Employers’ Forum on Disability, the company has more than twenty years’ experience of working with public and private sector employers and service providers. For more information about the Forum please visit: http://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/about-us.
2. For further information on the Disability Standard, details of the other award winners and the Roll of honour please visit www.disabilitystandard.com.
3. For more information on Manchester Metropolitan University please visit www.mmu.ac.uk.
4. Read about Manchester Metropolitan University’s Single Equality Scheme here: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/humanresources/equalities/sesconsultation/index.php.
5. For media enquiries please contact Zaynab Garba, Communications & Marketing Assistant zaynabg@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.
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