Creating Work Placements for Diversity and Equality

Techbuyer's Partnership with Disability Action Yorkshire

I am greatly appreciative of Techbuyer for providing our customers with opportunities to gain experience and confidence. I hope we can continue to work together once the placement concludes”

Valerie Wood, Employment Support Worker at Disability Action Yorkshire


Background 

Diversity can be defined by the degree of representation across the protected characteristics defined by the UK 2010 Equality act, including: age, disability, race, religion and gender.

Having greater diversity in the workplace has many benefits, including better decision making, creativity and innovation. Keeping track of, and encouraging (where possible), diversity across an organisation is a key part of any decent ESG strategy.



The Challenge

The Tech sector statistically lacks diversity; according to TechUK only 8.5% of IT professionals are from ethnic minority groups, 16% are female and only 9% have a disability.

Compared to the national averages this is considerably low, with ‘Information and Communication’ and ‘Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities’ selected as two of five industries where disabled workers were most likely to be underrepresented (compared to non-disabled workers).

Our aim is to remedy this where possible by firstly ensuring equal opportunities across our hiring process, but also by offering opportunities to individuals who may have difficulty gaining work or experience in the Tech Sector otherwise.


Work Placements

One of the ways we can offer these opportunities is by providing work placements; something we have done through Harrogate Skills for Living and EMMAUS – a local homeless Charity. We have also assisted young people in local educational institutions by conducting mock interviews to prepare them, for the real thing.

Work placements can be for the purpose of gaining experience, achieving projects or leading to future employment at the company following the placement. They can be focused on one department within the company or take place across multiple teams; our EMMAUS placement spent time in 4 different departments across 4 months before focusing on work in our e-waste department.

Techbuyer feels like a very safe and secure environment to get used to working as a whole and has definitely helped me feel more comfortable with the idea of working. With how supportive the people I’ve talked to have been it’s been a lot easier to get used to…

… Thanks for having me, I honestly believe it’s been a really beneficial experience for me.”

 

Success Stories

In September 2023 we reached out to local charity Disability Action Yorkshire (DAY) with the intention of trialling a placement for a suitable work experience candidate with interest in working in the IT industry. After DAY put forward a candidate, we arranged a visit to our facilities to make any arrangement and to address any health and safety concerns.

The candidate began working with our colleagues in the drive test department in October and have since thrived at the challenge, gaining valuable skills and experience, and even choosing to increase their working hours over time.

Having greater diversity in the workplace has many benefits, including better decision making, creativity and innovation.

Work placements can be for the purpose of gaining experience, achieving projects or leading future employment at the company following the placement.