Employment Opportunities is a national charity helping people with disabilities find and retain work. We also provide a wide range of support and advice to employers on disability and employment issues. The Charity was founded in 1980 by ten major City of London Employers. These were The Bank of England, BP, CEGB, IBM, Midland Bank, P&O, Price Waterhouse, Sedgwicks, Stock Exchange and Unilever. They were responding to the initiative and challenge set by the Charity`s Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh: To recognise and employ the abilities offered by people with disabilities. Over the last five years, the Charity has helped over 5000 people with disabilities find work.
There are now more than 20 centres in England, Scotland and Wales and the charity has 106 staff, 3 of whom are seconded from government organisations. 33% of the Charity`s staff have a disability. Since 2000, we have helped over 4,000 people with disabilities find and retain work and assisted a further 10,000 in various ways. Our help is available to all disabled people who are willing and able to work. This diverse and pan-disability approach last year covered 150 different disabilities and we helped find work in over 95 different careers and occupations. Employment Opportunities advocates quality, an efficient and economical management structure, and a businesslike approach to our processes and work. It is through this policy that we have secured a reputation for reliability and effectiveness. We are committed to the development and training of all our personnel, recognised by an Investors In People accreditation.