Business grants to help disabled access work in Guernsey

Grants can help fund access aids, specialist equipment or computer software

Grants are being offered to small businesses in Guernsey to ensure sites and facilities are fully accessible.

The Committee for Employment and Social Security said the Access to Work Scheme follows anti-discrimination laws coming into force this month.

Employers in Guernsey, Herm and Jethou have a duty to carry out "reasonable adjustments" for disabled employees.

Grants of up to £5,000 are being offered through the Guernsey Insurance Fund to help with any modifications.

Officials said the scheme aimed to "support disabled people and smaller local businesses where the cost of the adjustment would represent a disproportionate burden".

The grants could help fund the "purchase of appropriate aids or specialist equipment, software, etc", they added.

Grants were being capped at £5,000 per person within any period of 12 months, and the cost of the scheme was not due to exceed £50,000 a year, officials also said.

Carol Le Page, chair of the Guernsey Disability Alliance, said the grant scheme was a "really positive" forward.

She said: "It means that it will enable a lot more people to be helped to stay in work or enter work.

"It goes further than the previous scheme, it'll enable self-employed people to access the scheme as well... if cost is an issue, this is a way forward."

Employment and Social Security Committee Vice-President Lindsay de Sausmarez, said the main purpose of the scheme was to "support an inclusive and diverse workforce for the benefit of both employees and employers".

She said: "Many workplace adjustments can be made for free or at minimal cost, but some adjustments may be unaffordable for small businesses.

"In these circumstances, disabled employees, prospective employees and self-employed persons can apply for a grant to cover the cost of aids and equipment that would help to reduce or remove a disadvantage."

Before applying, employees must first ask their employer to make a reasonable adjustment.

Harriet Kettle, the lead officer for the scheme, said businesses still have a responsibility in ensuring inclusivity.

She said: "It's really about ensuring we're making an inclusive and diverse workforce and that nobody is incurring a disadvantage in any way, but again it is really just to stress that this scheme is not to absolve employers of their responsibility, because that is the crucial change there."

Earlier this month changes to Guernsey's discrimination laws, criminalised discrimination on the grounds of disability, carer status, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.

Previous proposals to proposals to exempt small businesses from the legislation were thrown out by the States last year.