Blind in Business has got...

An Eye for Talent

On World Sight Day 2009 (8th October) Blind in Business launched a year long campaign called An Eye for Talent. The campaign will remind employers of the blind and partially sighted talent pool available and will encourage them not to scale back their recruitment of visually impaired people during the recession.

The launch event was held on the London Eye and featured entertainment provided by talented blind musicians and artists during the flight. We demonstrated to 100 employers that sight impairment is not a barrier to achievement.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP says...

“Since attending the Blind in Business 10 year anniversary six years ago, Blind in Business has continued to support blind graduates into work.

Campaigns like the Eye for Talent Campaign, which will educate employers about the talent pool available, are vital if we are to change attitudes and improve the employment prospects of young blind people. It is shocking that two thirds of employers are unaware of Access to Work. However, through education we can help employers to overcome practical barriers and implement a ‘can do’ attitude regarding the recruitment of talented blind people.

Employers who fail to make their jobs accessible to blind and partially sighted people are missing out on a huge wealth of talent, and on a personal motivation and commitment to the work ethic.”

Amar Latif, founder of Traveleyes says...

"As a blind entrepreneur I wholeheartedly support Blind in Business and the work that they do to help blind graduates start their careers. The Eye for Talent campaign is unique and vitally important to ensuring that talented blind graduates are not excluded from the work place. By recognising the potential of blind graduates and through ensuring that they can compete equally for jobs, employers are opening their organisations to a new group of skilled and resourceful employees."

Nine-time Paralympic gold medallist, Chris Holmes MBE says...

“Athletes have to undergo rigorous training to be the best. In today’s competitive job market, graduates must also undergo training and be highly committed to secure a job. This can be even truer for blind or partially sighted graduates which is why Blind in Business is so important – the work they do to train their candidates and educate employers means that blind graduates are given the best chance to compete effectively for employment. Through campaigns like An Eye for Talent, hopefully even more employers will be able to help even more blind graduates achieve their potential".

Blind in Business Chairman, John Trundle says...

"I've had the privilege to meet large numbers of hugely talented and motivated young  blind people during my involvement with Blind in Business. In the Eye for Talent campaign we want to spread the message about what these talented people can achieve and have achieved. We want new employers to meet employers who have already benefitted from consciously extending their recruitment search in this way. We want to reassure recruiters that practical obstacles are often much more manageable than they think: technology is a great enabler. And we want to inspire young candidates to have the self-belief  to tell employers about the value they will bring to the business. In the end, we all win".

How can I get involved with the Eye for Talent campaign?

Employers

Sign up to receive our monthly 'Talent Profiles'

Visually impaired students and graduates

If you are a graduate job seeker then you can register for the Blind in Business employment service and we may feature you in one of our monthly talent profile mail outs

For more information about the event or to get involved please contact Rebecca Kinahan on 020 7588 1885 or rk@blindinbusiness.org.uk