Today, 8th October 2026, we launched the Apt Making It Work: A Fair Work Economic Inactivity Project Report alongside four new Employer Guides designed to help organisations create more inclusive workplaces for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Business and Fair Work, visited Springfield Properties’ Millerhill development during Challenge Poverty Week to meet employers involved in the Apt Making It Work project and hear how practical workplace changes are helping create more inclusive employment opportunities across Scotland.
The visit highlighted the important role employers play in advancing Fair Work, reducing inequalities and supporting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to enter, remain and progress in employment.
During the visit, the Minister met representatives from Springfield, Glencraft Luxury Mattresses, BRAG Enterprises and Taylor Hopkinson, all of whom participated in the project and worked alongside specialist partners and members of the SUSE Experience Network to strengthen inclusive workplace practices.
Minister for Business and Fair Work Tom Arthur said:
“We know that if people work for supportive employers, and feel heard and seen, they have a better chance of sustaining employment and progressing their careers. This is also good news for the economy as it reduces the numbers out of work or inactive and means more money in people’s pockets.
These Employer Guides give employers practical, user-friendly tools to help them benefit from the skills, experience and commitment that disabled employees and those with long-term health conditions bring to the workplace. I want to thank employers involved and SUSE for making this happen, and I’d encourage all employers to put these guides to use. I’m grateful to Springfield for hosting me today to see this work in action.”
Turning Insight into Action
Delivered by SUSE and funded by the Scottish Government, the Apt Making It Work Project supported 19 employers across the private, voluntary and social enterprise sectors to build more inclusive workplaces for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
The project provided fully funded advice, support and training to help employers strengthen retention, improve workplace practices and reduce the risk of economic inactivity. In doing so, it aimed to support more disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to enter, remain and progress in employment, contributing to efforts to reduce Scotland’s Disability Employment Gap.
Through four dedicated workstreams, employers tested new approaches, received practical support and explored ways to improve workplace support, digital accessibility and employee engagement. The project demonstrated measurable improvements in employer confidence, particularly around workplace support and digital accessibility.
A key strength of the project was the involvement of people with lived experience, ensuring that the learning, resources and recommendations developed throughout the programme were shaped by real workplace experiences and practical solutions.
Grant Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, SUSE
“Thank you to all the organisations and individuals who took part in this project for their willingness to learn, their bravery and their determination. Initiatives like this remain only ideas until people come together with purpose and action, and that is exactly what happened through Apt Making It Work.
The project has shown that employers are willing to make meaningful changes when support is practical, proportionate and relevant to their business. By bringing together lived experience, employer commitment and specialist expertise, we have helped turn good intentions into tangible actions that will support more disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to thrive at work.
The learning from this project provides a strong foundation for future action and demonstrates what can be achieved when inclusion is approached as a shared responsibility.”
Heather Henderson, Group HR Director, Springfield Properties
“As a major employer in the homebuilding industry, working with SUSE has been a hugely positive experience for Springfield. The project has helped us identify practical actions that has strengthened disability inclusion across our organisation and given us greater confidence to continue building a workplace where everyone can succeed.
We are pleased to support SUSE and welcome Tom Arthur MSP to our Millerhill Grange development to share the progress made through the project. It was also inspiring to be joined by employers from different sectors who share a common commitment to creating more inclusive workplaces and improving opportunities for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Apt Making It Work has shown the value of collaboration, shared learning and practical support, and we are proud to have been part of it.”
Lasting Resources for Employers
The Apt Making It Work Project report has been published by the Scottish Government and, as part of the project’s legacy, SUSE has launched four new Employer Guides to help organisations strengthen inclusive employment practices:
- Equitable Workplace Induction and In-Work Support
- Positive Workplace Conversations
- Workplace Digital Accessibility
- Improving Workplace Consultations
Access the Employer Guides here – Apt – Resources
You can read our Apt Making It Work: A Fair Work Economic Inactivity Project Report on the Scottish Government website –
Apt – Making it Work final report – gov.scot
Together, the report and guides provide practical, evidence-based resources to support employers in creating workplaces where disabled people and those with long-term health conditions can thrive, contribute and sustain rewarding careers.
