We are Proud to Be a Disability Confident Leader
At Smart, we are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader – the highest level of the government’s Disability Confident scheme.
It’s a recognition we don’t take lightly. It reflects how we recruit, support and develop our own people, and it gives us a responsibility to help other employers do the same. Here’s what it means, why it matters, and how we can help your organisation get started.
What Being a Disability Confident Leader Means
Disability Confident is a free, voluntary scheme run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It encourages employers to think differently about disability and take real action to recruit, keep and develop disabled people.
There are three levels, and each one has to be completed before moving on to the next:
Level 1 – Disability Confident Committed: signing up to the scheme’s commitments, such as making your recruitment process inclusive and accessible.
Level 2 – Disability Confident Employer: assessing yourself against the scheme and showing the actions you’re taking.
Level 3 – Disability Confident Leader: having that evidence independently checked by an external validator, confirming you employ disabled people, reporting publicly on disability, mental health and wellbeing, and actively encouraging other employers to join the scheme.
Leader status lasts for three years, after which it has to be renewed and re-validated. So it’s not a badge you earn once – it’s a standard you have to keep meeting.
Why Disability Confidence Matters for Employers
Building a disability inclusive workforce isn’t just a social responsibility, it makes distinct strategic sense for growing businesses.
For people looking for work, it’s a clear sign that an employer will offer a fair, accessible recruitment process and make reasonable adjustments where they’re needed. Creating an environment where staff feel supported, valued, and provided with reasonable adjustments leads to lower turnover and higher employee engagement.
For employers, it opens up a wider pool of talent. Over 20% of the UK working-age population has a disability or long-term health condition. Disabled people bring skills, experience and perspectives that businesses can’t afford to miss out on – and inclusive workplaces tend to keep their people for longer.
For us, it’s a natural fit. As an apprenticeship provider, our job is to open doors to good careers. Making sure those doors are open to everyone is part of that.
In practice, that means:
Support that lasts beyond the apprenticeship. We work in partnership with registered charities who provide workplace mentors, helping apprentices stay in long-term employment after their apprenticeship has ended.
Adjustments to how we teach and assess. We make reasonable adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment, so every learner has a fair and equal chance to succeed, whatever their individual needs.
You can read more about our approach in our Inclusion Charter.
The Path to Accreditation: How Employers Can Get Involved
Getting started is simpler than you might think – and it’s free.
Sign up to Level 1 on GOV.UK. You’ll agree to the scheme’s core commitments and can start using the Disability Confident logo straight away.
Work towards Level 2 by completing a self-assessment of how you recruit, keep and develop disabled people.
Aim for Leader once you’re ready, by having your evidence independently validated and showing how you champion the scheme with others.
The scheme is designed for businesses of every size. Smaller employers can use practical examples – like flexible interviews or informal adjustments – as evidence, rather than needing a stack of formal policies.
The government is also strengthening the scheme over 2026, with clearer standards and a more consistent approach to checking evidence. That makes it a great time to start your journey.
Find out more and sign up here – https://www.gov.uk/disability-confident
How Smart Training and Recruitment Can Support Your Journey
Part of being a Disability Confident Leader is helping other organisations take their next step – and we’d love to help yours.
Talking it through: not sure where to start, or which level is right for you? We’re happy to share what we’ve learned.
Supporting your evidence: we can help you think through your self-assessment and what good evidence looks like for a business your size.
Validation: as a Disability Confident Leader, we can act as an independent validator for organisations working towards Leader status.
Inclusive apprenticeships: we can help you build accessible, well-supported Apprenticeship opportunities that give disabled people a real route into your business – including access to workplace mentoring through our charity partners.
Ready to elevate your workplace inclusion?
Partnering with a Disability Confident Leader ensures your business has the expertise, tools, and validation needed to thrive. Contact the Smart Training and Recruitment team today to discuss how we can support your Disability Confident accreditation and help you build an empowered, diverse workforce.
Stay informed. Stay Smart. 🧠
