A business event in Gloucestershire tomorrow will highlight the benefits of employing and retaining a diverse workforce.

Between 8am and 10am, Business in the Community will host the gathering at Lloyds Banking Group in Barnwood to demonstrate to Gloucestershire companies how inclusive employment could be better for their business.

The theme of the event is based around the Government's Improving Lives Green Paper on work, health and disability and will encourage those attending to consider their current recruitment and employee support systems.

Currently, the cost of sickness absence to the UK economy is an estimated £9billion per year and that the cost of replacing an employee earning £25,000 is between £20,000 and £40,000.

Cllr Kathy Williams, cabinet member for long-term care, said: "We are pleased to be working closely with Business in the Community on this event and other initiatives.

"It highlights the importance of employers in helping us to develop our disability employment strategy and, whilst we have seen an increase in the numbers of people with disabilities gaining employment in the county, we know there is still much more we need to do if we want to see the disability employment gap halved."

Businesses will have the opportunity to hear from key speakers, including Mark Harper MP, about how the Government aims to support businesses of all sizes through innovation and funding.

As well as hearing from businesses about initiatives and good practice, they will have the opportunity to meet different stakeholders that provide funding, training and support for disabled people to re-enter the workplace.

For more information, visit  www.facebook.com/InclusiveEmploymentBetterBusiness or www.iebb.org.uk, or contact Chris Watts, Business on 07703 067773 or chris.watts@bitcconnect.org. 

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