Disability Confident Employer Scheme: Complete Guide for UK Employers
What Is Disability Confident?
Disability Confident is a UK government scheme that encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. It is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The scheme is voluntary, and the guidance, self-assessments and resources are free.
In March 2025 the government reported that the scheme has over 19,000 members, who report over 12 million employees working in their organisations.
The scheme is designed as a learning journey: every employer starts at Level 1 and is encouraged to progress to Levels 2 and 3. Membership at each level lasts up to three years.
The Three Levels
Level 1: Disability Confident Committed
Self-assessed. No external validation required.
Employers sign up to five core commitments:
- Ensure your recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
- Communicate and promote vacancies
- Offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
- Anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as required
- Support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work
Employers also commit to at least one activity from a list of options, proportionate to the size of the business.
Badge use: Employers can use the Disability Confident logo so potential applicants know they are an inclusive employer.
Level 2: Disability Confident Employer
Self-assessed, with a focus on action.
To reach Level 2, employers complete a self-assessment covering two themes:
- Getting the right people for your business
- Keeping and developing your people
They must carry out all the core actions in both themes and offer at least one activity in each theme, reviewing their activities regularly. The evidence template is kept for the employer's own records.
Badge use: Approved employers can use the Disability Confident Employer logo for the next three years.
Level 3: Disability Confident Leader
Requires independent validation.
Level 3 is the highest tier. Employers must:
- Challenge: have their self-assessment evidence independently validated, and confirm they employ disabled people
- Leadership: provide a narrative showing the activities they carry out to promote disability employment, for example encouraging other employers in their supply chain
- Reporting: use the Voluntary Reporting Framework as a guide to record and publicly report on disability, mental health and wellbeing
Validation: Validators include existing Disability Confident Leaders, local and national disability organisations, disabled people's user-led organisations, disabled employees or customers, and recognised accreditation organisations. The government says most validations are carried out by existing Leaders.
Renewal: Leader status lasts three years and must then be revalidated.
The Interview Commitment
A core Disability Confident commitment is to offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role. This does not mean hiring them — it means giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities at an interview. The guidance asks employers to make this clear in their recruitment material.
Best practice:
- Include a clear statement on job adverts explaining that disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be offered an interview.
- Ensure your applicant tracking system has a simple, prominent way for applicants to opt in.
- Train hiring managers on what the commitment means.
Benefits for Employers
- A structured framework for improving how you recruit, retain and develop disabled people
- A recognised logo that signals to disabled applicants that you are an inclusive employer
- Free guidance, self-assessments and resources from DWP
- At Leader level, a public report on disability, mental health and wellbeing that builds accountability
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|
| Ticking the box without changing practice | Audit one recruitment round each year against Disability Confident commitments |
| Interview commitment as hidden commitment | State it prominently on job adverts and your careers page |
| No measurement | Track the share of disabled applicants progressing through each hiring stage |
| Line managers unaware | Brief all hiring managers before each campaign |
How to Apply
- Go to gov.uk/disability-confident and read the guidance for levels 1, 2 and 3
- Sign up and complete the Level 1 commitments
- For Level 2, complete the Disability Confident Employer self-assessment
- For Level 3, arrange independent validation of your self-assessment and publish your report
Sources: Department for Work and Pensions, Disability Confident guidance for levels 1, 2 and 3 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-guidance-for-levels-1-2-and-3); UK Parliament written answer on Disability Confident, 13 March 2025