AET Earns Disability Symbol

We are pleased to confirm that we have been awarded the disability symbol accreditation by Jobcentre Plus.

The symbol is made up of two ticks and the words 'positive about disabled people'. You will see it displayed on all our job adverts and application forms.

The symbol shows our commitment to employing disabled people and demonstrates we will: -

• Interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities;
• Ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time, but at least once a year, with disabled employees what can be done to make sure they can develop and use their abilities;
• Make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure they stay in employment;
• Take action to ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make these commitments work;
• Each year, review the commitments and what has been achieved, plan ways to improve on them and let employees and Jobcentre Plus know about progress and future plans.

Being awarded this symbol means we are very positive about employing disabled people and are keen to know about their disabilities so we can make reasonable adjustments to support them.

—Tanya Bentham Recruitment and Retention Manager

The AET has only been operating for three years and opened its first three academies in Essex in September 2008. Since then it has expanded rapidly as a multi-sponsor and employer with 17 open academies and more than 50 centrally based staff.