OmniServ, a provider of assistance for disabled air passengers in the UK, has signed on as a Founding Strategic Partner of PurpleSpace, a professional development hub for disabled employee network and resource group leaders, disability champions and allies.
Established in 2015, PurpleSpace grew out of Kate Nash Associates work in establishing disability employee networks and resource groups for organisations across various sectors and trades. The organisation provides resources and training to members to support disabled employees to flourish at work, encouraging more businesses to engage and employ disabled people.
Kate Nash OBE, CEO and Creator of PurpleSpace, commented: “It’s great to have OmniServ on board as a Strategic Partner. They not only have real experience of helping disabled people navigate the airport and airline experience so they can have a holiday like everyone else, but they are also committed to extending employment opportunities for disabled people within their own organization.”
Providing assistance for People With Reduced Mobility (PRM) passengers at Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Stansted airports, OmniServ helps nearly two million PRM passengers annually.
At the beginning of 2019, OmniServ collaborated with Heathrow and Special Mobility to introduce Multimobby electric vehicles to the airport, helping enable PRM passengers with disabilities to travel through Heathrow with greater ease.
The new partnership announcement with PurpleSpace follows OmniServ’s commitment in March 2018 to achieve Disability Confident Employer status – a UK Government-backed programme to encourage companies to invest in supporting disabled employees – as soon as possible.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, the company has pledged to ensuring its recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, communicating and promoting vacancies, offering an interview to disabled people, anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required, as well as supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
“Employing people with disabilities is the right thing to do in an increasingly responsible, accessible and inclusive business world. But it’s more than just a moral imperative; it also is a logical move for us which strengthens our team,” said Sam Saunders, OmniServ’s Head of Innovation & Regulatory Compliance.
“If we’re going to deliver the best possible experience we can for disabled passengers, then disabled employees can contribute particularly valuable skills and insights based on their personal experiences. They have first-hand knowledge of what it is like to travel with a disability, and they can communicate that knowledge to the rest of the OmniServ team.
“Being a PurpleSpace Strategic Partner will further enhance our understanding of how we can deliver a better service built around real experience.”
According to recent Civil Aviation Authority statistics, UK air travel grew 19 percent between 2010 – 2017, whilst during the same period of time, the numbers of passengers requiring assistance leaped a substantial 47 percent.
Antony Marke, Managing Director of OmniServ, said: “At OmniServ, it is our fundamental belief that every customer, regardless of their assistance needs, has the right to enjoy air travel with comfort and dignity. We support more than1.7 million passengers with every type of disability every year, and look forward to partnering with PurpleSpace to continue vital work to ensure that travel is accessible for everyone, including those with visible or hidden disabilities.”
While many passengers have visible disabilities, OmniServ highlights that it recognises many people may have hidden disabilities and says it actively works with a range of charities to ensure assistance is available to those with hidden disabilities too, including autism, impaired vision, hearing problems and medical conditions such as Meniere’s Syndrome or colostomies.
As part of the partnership, OmniServ will be participating in PurpleSpace’s #PurpleLightUp on 3rd December 2019, a global campaign recognising the economic contribution of people with disabilities.
The campaign is held to coincide with and celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disability, established by the United Nations in 1992.
Originally posted THIIS | 10 October 2019