Delsion: one year on– disability confidence, workplace diversity and the future of employment consultancy

Human resources, learning and development and disability inclusion consultancy, Delsion Limited will celebrate a successful first year in business on 3 December 2015, International Day of Disabled People.

Delsion was founded in December 2014 by Julian John  an established and experienced HR consultant who had been forced to rebuild his life and career following catastrophic brain damage in 2005.

Throughout its first year, Delsion has advised and supported government and UK national employers, counting Brains Brewery among its early clients.

Julian John said:

“There is still often a lack of understanding of the benefits of having a diverse workforce. At Delsion, we say that people are people, talent is talent.

“Diversity in the workplace brings an organisation closer to its audiences by broadening the range of experiences, knowledge and perceptions that shape products, services and the customer experience.

“I am thrilled with the engagement and recognition Delsion has received in our first year. It is very fitting that we will be celebrating our first anniversary on the International Day of Disabled People.”

In the last year, Delsion has made Swansea the first disability confident employer city in the UK, as recognised by Justin Tomlinson, minister for disabled people, who said:

“Swansea is leading the way by becoming the UK’s first Disability Confident city, something the whole community can be proud of.”

Mr John commented:

“The Swansea Disability Confident initiative was a personal endeavour to engage employers and the city of Swansea around the benefits of employing disabled people.”

Delsion is already winning awards for its work, taking a national Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative Award (RIDI) in recognition of its work in making Swansea Disability Confident and it’s future plans for Wales.

Mr John said:

“I am delighted to have won this award as it is a great acknowledgment of all the work Delsion has done in Swansea and elsewhere in Wales to raise awareness of diversity and the positive role that disabled people play in the economy and Welsh workforce.

“It is especially rewarding when considering that some of the other entrants were very well established companies, such as the Royal Mail, Marks & Spencer and Lloyds Banking Group.”

One of the judges said of Delsion:

“…this small employer facing personal challenges exceeded the goliath task of creating a disability confident Swansea event from scratch.”

Delsion’s work has also been recognised by the Prime Minister’s office, and earlier in the year held an event at the House of Commons for ministers, MPs and business leaders to present its vision of disabled employability within Wales. Justin Tomlinson MP, minister for disabled people and Owen Smith MP, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions spoke in support of the work Delsion is doing in Wales.

Delsion has a similar event planned in the Senedd in January 2016, where Julie James AM, deputy minister for skills and technology will be speaking.

Delsion aims to become one of the leading human resources and learning and development consultancies in Wales, and intends to make Wales the leading region for disability inclusion in the workplace in Europe.

To find out more here