ACS is encouraging retailers to enter the Business Disability Forum’s Disability Smart Awards 2023.
The Disability Smart Awards give retailers the opportunity to recognise the achievements of their team and store in meeting the needs of disabled customers and colleagues, from providing great customer service to ensuring that their store is accessible for everyone.
There are 10 Disability Smart award categories this year, these are:
- Disability Smart Diversity and Inclusion Professional
- Disability Smart Leader
- Disability Smart Technology
- Disability Smart Inclusive Workplace Experience
- Disability Smart Inclusive Recruitment
- Disability Smart Inclusive Communication
- Disability Smart Inclusive Customer Service
- Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment
- Disability Smart Learning and Development
- Disability Smart Inclusive Product Design
Business Disability Forum is looking for organisations that are providing excellent service to all customers, including disabled people. This could be in the form of offering a genuinely inclusive approach to customer service throughout or after the pandemic or innovation of a new product or service developed to meet the needs of disabled customers.
Earlier this year, ACS launched its Everyone Welcome Guide, developed in consultation with the Business Disability Forum, Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK and National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise, which provides retailers with practical advice on how they can make their store accessible to everyone. The full guide is available here https://www.acs.org.uk/everyone-welcome-guide
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Local shops operate at the heart of our communities and are committed to ensuring that they can meet the needs for all customers and colleagues, whatever their needs or talents. We are encouraging retailers to enter these awards and recognise the important steps that they are taking to ensure inclusivity for all.”
The awards are now open for entries, are free to enter and open to UK and global organisations of any size, in any sector.
The closing date for all nominations is 5pm (GMT) on Thursday 19th January 2023. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 27th April.
For more information and to enter, visit Business Disability Forum’s Disability Smart Award 2023.
