The UK Government has announced a major overhaul of the Disability Confident scheme, aimed at improving workplace standards and expanding employment opportunities for sick and disabled people. The reforms are designed to help employers better recruit, retain and support disabled workers, while boosting living standards and workplace inclusion as part of the Government’s wider Plan for Change.
Launched in 2016, the Disability Confident scheme has seen nearly 19,000 employers sign up, benefiting an estimated 11 million employees. However, its impact has varied widely across regions, often failing to reflect local needs. Although around two-thirds of participating employers reported positive effects, the Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, found that while the scheme has strengths, it ultimately “lacks teeth”.
In response, the Government is reshaping the scheme to deliver more consistent and meaningful outcomes for both employers and employees. The reforms aim to prevent ill-health, help people remain in work, and support businesses in building healthier and more inclusive workplaces. Central to the changes is a stronger focus on progression, accountability and real-world impact.
Under the revamped approach, employers will be encouraged to move more quickly through the scheme’s three commitment levels. The time allowed at the entry level will be reduced from three years to two, and employers will no longer be able to renew at this level, prompting greater ambition and continuous improvement. Support will also be tailored more closely to the needs and capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can participate meaningfully.
The reformed scheme will place a stronger emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, connecting employers so they can share good practice and access practical resources. Crucially, the voices and lived experiences of disabled people will play a central role in shaping standards and guidance, ensuring the scheme reflects real challenges and solutions in the workplace.
The Government says these changes will make participation in Disability Confident more valuable for employers and more effective for disabled workers, helping improve employment outcomes nationwide. The reforms are also expected to support progress for the more than 2.8 million people currently signed off as long-term sick, enabling more of them to move into secure and sustainable employment.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said the scheme has enormous potential but has not delivered enough for disabled people or for employers seeking to build inclusive workforces. He said the reforms would ensure better support across the board, including stronger help for SMEs and improved access to resources. He added that the changes sit alongside a £1 billion annual investment in employment support by the end of the decade and the Connect to Work programme, which aims to help 300,000 sick or disabled people into work by the end of the current parliament.
The reforms have been welcomed by regional authorities and business groups. Tees Valley Mayoral Combined Authority said the proposed changes would strengthen the scheme’s impact and promote greater inclusivity for employers, while the Federation of Small Businesses described the new small business-focused approach as a positive and long-overdue step that reflects the realities faced by smaller firms.
The Government will work closely with existing Disability Confident members, SMEs, large employers and the Independent Disability Advisory Panel to ensure the reforms are practical, credible and effective. The changes build on wider efforts to tackle barriers to work for sick and disabled people, including employer-led innovation programmes responding to issues highlighted in the Keep Britain Working review.
