About project

About

The i-SME project Our methods Our partners About

Inspiration

For SMEs: Facts Stories Inspiration

Tips and Instructions

For employers: 20 tips brochure Catalogue of instructions Tips and Instructions

Action guidelines

For stakeholders: Action Guidelines PDF Action Guidelines

Language

Dutch

English

Finnish

French

German

Lithuanian

Portuguese (Portugal)

Spanish

About

About the i-SME Project

The right to work is enshrined in Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Furthermore, ensuring an inclusive future of work is one of the aims of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, all European Union countries have introduced measures to remove the barriers that people with disabilities encounter in the job market. However, this remains out of reach for millions of people willing to work.

At the EU level, only 47% of persons with disabilities aged 15 – 64 years are employed, compared to 67% of persons without disabilities

Unlike large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tend to employ fewer people with disabilities. They are often unaware of the capabilities of disabled people in the workforce.

The reasons for hesitating to employ persons with disabilities are, in most cases, a lack of good examples, as well as a lack of transparent, easily accessible information about facilitating recruitment, organising training and workplace support, and adapting to the working environment. This lack of knowledge is also evident in many studies focusing on SMEs and the recruitment of disabled people.

Our goal is to increase the number of SMEs

aware of the possibilities

of employing persons with disabilities

motivated to take action

in employing individuals with disabilities.

taking action

to employ persons with disabilities.

Let's take a look at how it works.

We produced a documentary mini-series of videos to provide all stakeholders in all countries with access to ‘sound’ materials, raising awareness of job opportunities within SMEs.

We provide information and support throughout the recruitment and preparation processes, as well as guidance in the workplace and long-term support.

We will support the EC in their future actions by developing Action Guidelines that the EC and national, regional and local institutions can use when planning events, developing support initiatives and formulating policies. These guidelines include information on how to plan actions to increase the number of i-SMEs employing persons with disabilities.