Since 2023 West Somerset company Singer Instruments have been raising awareness around disabilities, making changes to their recruitment processes, and utilising schemes such as Access to Work to retain and develop their staff as part of the Government’s Disability Confident Scheme.
The business, who design, build and sell lab automation solutions around the globe from their premises in Roadwater and Minehead has now achieved Level 3 Leader status meaning they are disability inclusion champions.
The three levels of the scheme encourage employers to be part of a movement of change by altering processes to enable anyone to apply for roles either as employees or on student placements, as well as making adjustments to ensure everyone can work to the best of their ability and put their true skills into practice.
Pippa Penny, Employer Account Executive at SeetecPluss who validated Singer’s Level 3 application said “As a Disability Confident Leader, our role isn’t just to champion inclusion, but to help businesses unlock the competitive advantage of a truly diverse workforce. We’ve seen first-hand Singer Instruments’ commitment to their Disability Confident journey and are proud to celebrate their achievement as partners in a more inclusive labour market.”
Earlier this year Singer Instruments were announced as winners of the Somerset Business Awards Employer of the Year Category. Matthew Huggett, Lead Judge for the category, said “Singer Instruments impressed the judging panel with its genuinely inclusive culture and its commitment to supporting people as individuals. Rather than treating inclusion as a standalone programme, it is woven into the fabric of the organisation.
“The business shows real flexibility, takes a thoughtful case-by-case approach to supporting employees, and has created an environment where people feel valued and able to succeed. Its Disability Confident Leader status is a well-deserved recognition of a culture that combines strong business leadership with a genuine commitment to people.”
The Government is currently reshaping the future of Disability Confident to make it work better for small and medium-sized employers, and to encourage more businesses to participate.
Robbie Devlin, Managing Director at Singer Instruments, said: “Inclusion isn’t a box-checking exercise for us, it’s core to how we operate. Becoming a Level 3 Leader validates the work we’ve put into building a truly supportive workplace, and we hope to inspire other businesses across our region and industry to take the same journey.”
Pictured, from left, are: Katy Lampard, HR Manager, Sally Parish, HSE Manager, Robbie Devlin, Managing Director of Singer Instruments.
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