Congleton Town Council has cemented its commitment to being an inclusive employer.

The council has formally signed up as a 'Disability Confident Committed' employer, encouraging people with disabilities to apply for jobs at the council.

Members of the team recently attended Disability Confident Employer training and learned more about removing barriers for disabled people and the benefits to the council and the wider community this could bring.

Councillor Kay Wesley, chair of the council's Community Committee, said: "We learned that a third of disabled people want to work but can't due to a number of barriers, and that many employers want to recruit disabled people but lack the confidence and knowledge to do so effectively. The Disability Confident scheme is intended to overcome this.

"We have hosted career fairs in the Town Hall for people with additional access needs and been impressed by delegates' keenness to work and by the strides some employers are already taking in this area.

"The town council is always seeking to improve, so we are announcing our commitment to Disability Confidence this July which is of course Disability Pride Month."

According to the Office for National Statistics, only 52.8% of disabled people of working age in the UK are in employment.

This is compared to 82.5% of non-disabled people - a disability employment gap of almost 30%.

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Chair of Congleton's Equal Access Advisory Group, Dr Deborah Lawson said: "The social model of disability recognises that many of the difficulties disabled people face are created by barriers in society. Employers shouldn't be asking 'What's wrong with you?' but 'How can we help you?'

"That simple shift in thinking leads to more meaningful conversations about removing barriers and making the adjustments people need to do their job."

Congleton Town Council has been putting its commitment into practice in its recent recruitment for a new chief officer.

Current incumbent David McGifford said: "We were careful to ensure the job advertisement included language encouraging people with different characteristics, including those with disabilities, to apply for the role, and throughout the following stages, we asked candidates what adjustments they may need to access the application and interview process.

"Removing barriers for disabled people isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. It helps us access a wider talent pool since one in four people of working age are disabled.

"It also brings more diversity into our team which will strengthen customer service and creates a fairer local economy where everyone has the opportunity to contribute their skills.

"That is what Congleton Town Council is all about."