We are extremely proud to announce that EmployAbility’s Founder and Managing Director Tab Ahmad has won the prestigious Asian Women of Achievement Award!

The Awards, held at the Hilton London on Park Lane on Wednesday 15^th May, showcased some of the most inspirational women of this generation. Cherie Blair, Sarah Ferguson and HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan were amongst the distinguished guests.

Tab commented,

“I am really honoured to have won the prestigious Asian Women of Achievement award.

I hope that it will encourage more employers to partner with EmployAbility to engage in the disability space and to properly review and open up their recruitment processes to ensure that these are barrier free, enabling them to attract and recruit talented disabled students/graduates and those with experience to their businesses.

Disabled people make up the fastest growing minority consumer market. Currently in the US, this is worth $220 billion and, in the UK £80 billion. It not only makes human sense, but it also makes business sense to value disability and diversity.”

Shortlisted with five other extremely strong nominees, the Judges were impressed by Tab’s dedication to and achievement in her pioneering work in the field of disability and employment, commenting,

“Since she founded EmployAbility in 2006, Tab has been working with disabled students to help them make the jump from education to employment.

Her work really does change the lives of young people, and we were impressed not only by her passion, but her knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit.

Tab is not only helping students directly, but by educating employers she is changing the perception of disability in the UK.”

Though we are extremely proud of all that we have achieved at EmployAbility, there is still much work to be done in supporting talented disabled students and graduates into employment, and encouraging and enabling employers to access this untapped talent pool.

We are excited to announce that EmployAbility will later this year launch its EmployExperiencedAbility Programme, to enable talented experienced professionals to benefit from our support, and are also working on a programme to help disabled school leavers plan their future careers!  Our work continues…

Tab is shortlisted in the Public Service category in recognition of her dedication to and impact in helping disabled students and graduates. The winner will be announced at the Awards on the 15^th May 2013 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Watch this space!

The European Diversity Awards will take place on Thursday 15^th September at the Natural History Museum in London. The Awards recognise and celebrate those organisations and individuals that have shown innovation, creativity and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion during 2013. EmployAbility is proud to be the disability partner for the event. Tab Ahmad, our Managing Director, will be on the judging panel again this year.

The event launch marked the opening of applications for this year’s awards and whetted our appetite for the main awards ceremony. It was also a great opportunity to meet with others who are passionate about disability equality and diversity in general.

The following day, we were pleased to attend the European Diversity Conference, an annual event which brings together delegates and leading diversity experts from all over Europe to debate today’s crucial diversity-related issues. The Conference proved to be extremely thought-provoking and motivational. The speakers took time to acknowledge Europe’s successes in becoming more diversity-inclusive, but to stress that much work still needs to be done across all strands of diversity. During the afternoon session, Tab formed part of the expert panel, together with Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Head of Diversity EMEA at Google, and others, to examine disability in the workplace. Topic discussed included the employer’s role in creating an inclusive work environment where disabled people can thrive.

We very much enjoyed attending these inspirational events and EmployAbility looks forward to such events in the future which help to further disability and diversity in the workplace.

I first heard of EmployAbility through an email flyer. EmployAbility help disabled students apply for interns and graduate jobs with some renowned international companies. While I am still in the early stages of deciding my career path, although it will lie in the technology sector, EmployAbility offers disabled students a day insight into some of the most highly prestigious companies in the UK.

EmployAbility offered a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into Google. I couldn’t believe my luck when, against all odds, I applied for and secured a place on the Google Europe TechAbility Business 2012 programme. This sort of programme is always competitive and I thought, due to complexity of my disability, this would affect my chances.

I cannot express how much this event shaped my technology vision. Google have given me ideas and tools to apply my capability, and vision to take forward and hone-in my specialized field of assistive technology and my studies. It was simply an incredible day to be surrounded by Googlers (Google staff) who are fervent about what they do in the fast-paced digital technology industry.

EmployAbility gives disabled students unique opportunities into a career of their choice and I feel fortunate to have found mine at Google.

Now I look forward to starting my technology leadership journey on the Google TechAbility Europe Mentoring Programme.

Julie McElroy, PhD in Assistive Technology and Education, University of the West of Scotland

EmployAbility is pleased to be a Partner of the EDA and our Managing Director and Founder, Tab Ahmad, served on the judging panel this year. Earlier in the day, Tab addressed delegates at the European Diversity Conference about disability in the workplace.

Tab spoke about the overwhelming benefits and importance of valuing diversity in the workplace and outlined the strong business case for employing those with disabilities. She drew attention to the fact that disabled graduates may have more ‘life experience’ and practice at overcoming obstacles and that the contribution that a disabled person makes to any business usually far outweighs the necessary adjustment costs. Tab also highlighted the significance of disabled people as the fastest growing minority consumer market, currently worth £80 billion in the UK and around $220 billion in the US, stressing the need for businesses to reflect this segment of their consumer base.

Plans are already underway for the 2013 Awards that will take place next autumn at the Natural History Museum, allowing for an even bigger celebration of diversity across Europe, which EmployAbility look forward to being a part of.

Join the Guardian Careers live on Wednesday 23 May at 1pm.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/diverse-talent-entry-level-jobs

Don’t miss the opportunity to benefit from these valuable interactive skills sessions. Please register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as places are limited:

Leading British bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, has joined technology giants Google as joint headline sponsor of the 2012 European Diversity Awards.

Now in their second year, the EDA celebrate and reward those organizations and individuals who have shown outstanding commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. RBS themselves celebrated a double win at the 2011 event, winning the Boutique Marketing – Marketing Campaign of the Year Award, while CEO Chris Sullivan accepted the accolade for the Abercrombie & Fitch Diversity Champion of the Year.

Other 2011 winners included Lord Alli, the BBC’s Frank Gardner, French bank Société Générale and the Vodafone Group.

Organised by diversity specialists Square Peg Media, the 2012 European Diversity Awards are due to take place on 20th September and will once again be presented by the BBC’s Jane Hill.

The EDA are media partnered by The Guardian, giving the awards huge pre and post-event publicity throughout 2012.

For more information, click  www.europeandiversityawards.com

When? Wednesday 30th November 2011

Where? Central London

Our highly experienced team will be delivering a skills workshop to provide you with essential advice and guidance on interview and assessment centre skills.  The workshop will help you to excel by covering:

• advice on answering questions in competency and strengths based interviews
• top tips for success in interviews and assessment centres
• typical group assessment tasks and tips
• an insight into why employers use assessment centres and what they are looking for.

We will also provide information on opportunities including internship, work experience and graduate programme opportunities with top disability inclusive employers from within:

• investment banking
• law
• chemicals
• banking
• I.T.
• media and other sectors

Date: Wednesday 30 November 2011.

Location: London.

Come and find out all about a career at Herbert Smith!

This event is open to all disabled students and graduates who want to find out more about a career in law.

The day will involve a skills session on application forms, an opportunity to meet with recruiters and others from Herbert Smith, and to hear about Herbert Smith commitment to disability.

Watch this space for more information.