Disability Confident Employer Scheme: Complete Guide for UK Employers
What Is Disability Confident?
Disability Confident is a UK government-backed voluntary scheme that encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. It is delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is free to join.
Over 19,000 organisations are registered, employing over 11 million people in the UK.
The Three Levels
Level 1: Disability Confident Committed
Self-assessed. No external validation required.
Employers sign up to five commitments:
- Ensure job descriptions do not contain unnecessary barriers
- Offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria (the "guaranteed interview scheme" commitment)
- Provide reasonable adjustments
- Promote a culture of being disability confident
- Support employees who become disabled to stay in work
Time to achieve: Typically 1–2 hours of self-assessment online at gov.uk.
Badge use: Employers may display the Level 1 badge on job adverts, website, and communications.
Level 2: Disability Confident Employer
Self-assessed with a focus on action.
To progress to Level 2, employers must:
- Complete all Level 1 commitments
- Evidence actions across two additional themes:
- Getting the right people for your business (inclusive recruitment, work experience, apprenticeships, supported employment)
- Keeping and developing your people (health and wellbeing, reasonable adjustments, progression pathways, disability champions)
Validation: A peer validator (usually a disability organisation or fellow employer at Level 3) must confirm the self-assessment is plausible. BDF, Remploy, and local Jobcentre Plus disability advisers all act as validators.
Badge use: Level 2 badge, which is more widely recognised by disabled jobseekers.
Level 3: Disability Confident Leader
Requires independent external validation.
Level 3 is the highest tier. Employers must:
- Evidence all Level 1 and 2 actions
- Demonstrate third-party reporting or independent validation of their disability employment practices
- Report annually on disability employment outcomes
Validation: Conducted by an accredited external body (e.g., Business Disability Forum, Shaw Trust, Mencap).
Recognition: Disability Confident Leaders are published on a government list and may use the Leader badge, which carries significant brand value in recruitment.
Renewal: Level 3 status must be renewed every three years.
The Guaranteed Interview Scheme
A core Disability Confident commitment is to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role. This does not mean hiring them — it means guaranteeing a chance to demonstrate their abilities.
Best practice:
- Include a clear statement on job adverts: "We are a Disability Confident Employer and will guarantee an interview to any applicant who declares a disability and meets the minimum criteria."
- Ensure your ATS has a simple, prominent disability declaration option.
- Train hiring managers on what the guarantee means.
Benefits for Employers
Research from DWP (2022) shows Disability Confident employers report:
- 82% say the scheme helped them think differently about disability
- 74% say it improved their recruitment pool
- 68% say it reduced staff turnover among disabled employees
- 55% report improved team morale overall
Additional benefits include:
- Access to DWP's Disability Employment Advisers at Jobcentre Plus
- Priority consideration for some government contracts (procurement policy note PPN 09/21 encourages buyers to consider social value including disability employment)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|
| Ticking the box without changing practice | Audit one recruitment round each year against Disability Confident commitments |
| Guaranteed interview as hidden commitment | State it prominently on job adverts and your careers page |
| No measurement | Track % of disabled applicants progressing through each hiring stage |
| Line managers unaware | Brief all hiring managers before each campaign |
How to Apply
- Go to gov.uk/disability-confident
- Click "Sign up" and complete the online self-assessment
- For Level 2, contact a validator (BDF, Remploy, or Jobcentre Plus disability adviser)
- For Level 3, contact an accredited external body
Sources: UK Department for Work and Pensions (gov.uk/disability-confident), Disability Confident Evaluation 2022, Business Disability Forum Disability Standard 2023