L&Q is now a member of Purple Space

Purple Space is a networking and professional development hub for disabled employees, networks, resource group leaders and allies from all sectors and trades.

Felix Lynn, Chair of Ability at L&Q said:

“Ability is working hard to drive and sustain cultural change for the benefit of all disabled colleagues. Ultimately, the only real way we can do this is to build disability confidence from the inside out.

Joining Purple Space will support us to look afresh at how we can encourage employees to bring their authentic selves to work, as we align ourselves with other organisations at the forefront of disability inclusion.”

David Codner, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at L&Q said:

“Becoming a Purple Space member will help L&Q to become truly disability confident through better policies, practices and procedures.

It will also provide new opportunities to navigate the lived experience of disability at work and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to advancing equality for disabled colleagues. We still have work to do, and always will, but we firmly believe that listening and learning are at the heart of improving.”

Purple Space membership follows our achievement of Disability Confident Committed status last year after completing level 2 of the Government’s scheme. Through this additional accreditation, we have renewed our commitment to employing, supporting, and promoting disabled people to further wide our talent pool.

Ability, our staff network for Disability and long-term health conditions, will form an action pan from our level 2 accreditation to ensure best practice within L&Q, as well as help us to work towards becoming a level 3 Disability Confident Leader.

Led by a committee of colleagues across the organisation, Ability was established in 2021 to increase visibility of disability in the workplace, and to create an adaptable, supportive work environment where disabled staff feel able to bring their whole selves to work.

The group will provide a safe and inclusive space for staff with disabilities – including physical impairments, neurodiversity, and mental health conditions – to ask questions, share information, and shape the agenda on all matters relating to disability.