The Locksmith Journal Jan-Feb 2017 - Issue 48 | Page 58

58 • BUSINESS & FINANCE
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Golden opportunity to go purple

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UK BUSINESS HAS A GOLDEN opportunity to access the £ 212bn annual disability market through the Government ’ s Disability Confident scheme , according to disability equality champion Mike Adams OBE .
The Chief Executive of not-forprofit organisation Purple says the Government ’ s re-launch of its Disability Confident scheme is providing businesses with the opportunity to relook at disability differently and help them access the disability market , or ‘ Purple Pound ’, which is worth £ 212bn a year to the UK .
The Disability Confident scheme aims to support the government ’ s overall strategy to reduce the disability employment gap . It has been running since 2013 and was re-launched by the minister for disabled people Penny Mordaunt MP last November .
Chief Executive of Purple , Mike Adams , said : “ It ’ s unacceptable that in 2016 , being disabled makes you twice as likely to live in poverty . Just 49 per cent of the UK ’ s
11.5m disabled people are currently in work , compared to 82 per cent of nondisabled people . This has a real impact on the quality of life of disabled people , as well as on the British economy , which is providing financial support rather than receiving incoming funds through taxable earnings .
“ Business is finally starting to realise the benefits of having a diverse workforce with the ‘ Purple Pound ’ in the UK worth £ 212bn a year . The re-launch of Disability Confident is a golden opportunity for business to become Purple and access this lucrative market through inclusive employment strategies .”
Purple ’ s research previously found almost half of UK businesses ( 45 per cent ) are apprehensive about hiring someone with a disability because of fears they won ’ t be able to do the job .
It is now working with business to combat these misconceptions and develop inclusive employment strategies .
Purple also simultaneously works with disabled people offering employment support , as well as a specialist recruitment portal matching skilled disabled workers with employers . The organisation aims to help more than 20,000 disabled people to find permanent jobs over the next decade .
For more information on Purple and the research findings , or to download its Disability Confident brochure for business , go to www . wearepurple . org . uk .

ANNUAL HOUSING MARKET FORECAST

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HOUSE PRICES IN THE UK WILL SEE an average increase of 3 % over the course of the next year as the number of transactions stabilises , according to the RICS housing forecast for 2017 .
Following on from the 2016 forecast , the supply pipeline or lack of it is at the forefront of the analysis and dominates the residential market . While there is an improvement , the legacy of building on an insufficient scale has left the average inventory on estate agents books close to a historic low *.
Looking forward , transaction activity will stabilise and is likely to come in between 1.15 and 1.2 million , a little below the 1.25 million likely to be recorded for the whole of 2016 . The prediction for 2017 reflects the trend over recent months .
East Anglia is likely to continue its trend during 2016 and alongside the North West and West Midlands is likely to record gains higher than the national average . Meanwhile , prices in Central London look set to stabilise after recent declines , with support provided by the weaker exchange rate encouraging foreign buyers .
Simon Rubinsohn , RICS Chief Economist , commented :
“ Although recent announcements by the government on housing are very welcome , the ongoing shortfall of stock across much of the sales and lettings markets is set to continue to underpin prices and rents . As a result , the affordability challenge will remain very much to the fore for many . Meanwhile the lack of existing inventory in the market is impacting the ability of households to move and will contribute toward transaction activity over the whole of 2017 being a little lower that in the year just ending .”
Jeremy Blackburn , RICS Head of Policy , commented :
“ The Housing White Paper will be a defining moment in January , to see if more radical thinking in Whitehall is a reality . The proposed ban on lettings agents ’ fees , and the unintended consequences of such a blunt policy , will also be a strong feature of the year ahead .
“ Whilst the system based on large , private housing developers and homes for owner occupation has increased house building , it ’ s not delivering . The UK needs a co-ordinated strategy for building across tenures , using all of the delivery and technology mechanisms at our disposal .
abooth @ rics . org
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