'On 4th November 2022 Tarlu committed itself as a Disability Confident employer. It is a commitment that the Tarlu management team are extremely proud of and from both a business and personal perspective, we want to encourage other businesses to do the same. 

Why we did it? 

In 2023, our Managing Directors daughter was registered disabled following a diagnosis of Visual Impairment. Due to circumstances outside of anyone’s control, the road to an accurate diagnosis had been both long and challenging. The final diagnosis itself was received with great despair - as it would be for any parent in a similar position.

Coming from the mindset of a business owner, it didn’t take long to start looking into how, long-term, such a disability could be managed. The challenge was, and will always be, to attempt to achieve a way of life as close to normal as possible; the very challenge that led us here. 

Part of the challenge in overcoming disadvantages, caused by disabilities, is being able to find a way to earn an honest living - via employment. Through in depth research into this area, it was great to find regimes such as ‘‘Access to Work which help support disabled people in the workplace. We found a variety of charities doing what they could to help with the cause as well as a significant number of businesses that, for no financial benefit, were protectively trying to encourage disabled people to apply and work within their organisations. It was clear that in many situations some very simple and reasonable adjustments could be made to open up job roles to disabled individuals. Those employers, that are willing to take those extra steps and support disabled individuals in the workplace, are registered as Disability Committed.  

It goes without saying that we, at Tarlu, acknowledged immediately that we could do more. A review of our operation and policies was an instant commitment towards a positive change. 

What does being a Disability Confident Committed or a Disability Confident employer mean? 

‘Disability Confident’ is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions. It is voluntary and has been developed by employers and disabled people's representatives. 

To be recognised as Disability Confident Committed, businesses must agree to the Disability Confident commitments and identify at least one action that they will carry out to make a difference for disabled people. 

The commitments are:

• Inclusive and accessible recruitment

• Communicating vacancies

• Offering an interview to disabled people

• Providing reasonable adjustments

• Supporting existing employees 

The activities include:

• work experience

• work trials

• paid employment

• apprenticeships

• job shadowing

• traineeships

• internships

• student placements

• sector-based work academy placements 

At Tarlu we meet our commitments and are also implementing multiple actions. We encourage all other businesses to do the same.

What does it affect going forward? 

Our goal is to make working at Tarlu truly accessible. We are willing to go the extra mile to support disabled individuals in our work place. Our clients and suppliers can trade with Tarlu knowing that we are proactively trying to help our local community and work towards greater causes other than profit. We hope that our actions not only change the lives of many for the better but we hope to encourage other employers to do the same. 

If you are a disabled individual looking for work or work experience then please see our Work Opportunities page. 

For businesses seeking more information on Disability Confident please see links below. 

Become a Disability Confident Employer (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign#become-a-disability-confident-employer) 

Guidance on employing disabled people and people with health conditions (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign#guidance-on-employing-disabled-people-and-people-with-health-conditions) 

List of employers that have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up)'