OCS is always looking for opportunities to build a more inclusive environment for our colleagues, customers, and communities. That’s why this July, for Disability Pride Month, we’ve partnered with disability equality charity Scope.
A core aim of Disability Pride Month is to raise awareness of the issues facing disabled communities and to celebrate their members across the UK. With 3 in 4 disabled people experiencing negative attitudes, we know change starts with action.
As we operate on the frontline of many public services and spaces, we see firsthand how thoughtful inclusion can make all the difference. For example, through our work with airports, we provide tailored Passenger Reduced Mobility (PRM) services that offer dignity and ease to travellers with reduced mobility. In 2016, in collaboration with Gatwick Airport, we launched the globally recognised Sunflower Lanyard Scheme, a discreet way for passengers with hidden disabilities to signal that they may need additional support.
We also understand that meaningful support for disabled individuals must be built into the fabric of our organisation, from how we recruit to how we engage with our colleagues day to day. Our Chief People Officer for the UK and Ireland, Sarah Williams, recently shared how we’re rethinking our recruitment practices to be more inclusive, whether that means removing traditional barriers like CVs or reshaping interviews to accommodate different needs. These inclusive formats help us better support people from across the full spectrum of disabled experiences.
Another way we promote inclusion is through our People into Work programme. The programme often welcomes candidates who have experienced long-term unemployment due to a serious injury or disability. It provides a pathway into meaningful employment and a chance to build a fulfilling career where barriers to work are reduced. Once they become part of the OCS team, we ensure sustained support through initiatives like our award-winning CHROMA network — short for Creating Harmony, Respecting Others, Making Allies. Open to all colleagues, CHROMA brings together committees and ally groups that champion equity and respect in the workplace. It includes four dedicated networks: Physical and Mental Health, Race, Ethnicity and Faith, LGBTQ+ and Gender, and Armed Forces and Veterans. Through these groups, OCS colleagues can find community, resources, and a platform to drive positive change.
We’re proud to support Scope this Disability Pride Month. Their work continues to be instrumental in championing disabled rights and uplifting disabled voices. We know that inclusion must be a sustained movement. By partnering with Scope, evolving our practices, and listening to lived experience, we’re working every day to build a workplace and a world that works better for everyone. Later this month, we’ll also be sharing stories from our disabled colleagues, shining a light on their experiences, perspectives, and the contributions they make every day at OCS.
