The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 30: Winter 2023/24 | Page 18

PEOPLE

WECIL calls on local businesses to help improve Accessibility in Somerset for disabled people

WECIL , a Bristol-based user-led organisation that supports disabled people to live the life they choose , is urging more businesses to engage with its year-long ‘ Accessible Somerset ’ project .
Commissioned by Somerset County Council , the initiative , which was launched in April , aims to help make the region more inclusive and accessible to its residents and visitors . WECIL ’ s lived-experience approach allows people to directly engage with the experiences of disabled people , helping to dismantle stigmas around disability and promote a more inclusive society .
The project began by gathering feedback from the disabled community on areas identified as inaccessible , ranging from physical barriers to socio-cultural challenges .
Following feedback , WECIL designed a series of free webinars to help businesses , covering Access to Outdoor Spaces , Access to the Public Realm and the Built Environment and Access to Hospitality .
Despite this , the webinars have so far garnered a low response rate , with targeted businesses showing a significant lack of understanding about the meaning of accessibility . Becoming more accessible goes far beyond making physical changes to your establishment and can improve revenue given the power of the ‘ Purple Pound .’
While architectural factors can be perceived as limiting , many disabled people can navigate them but may need additional support due to sensory impairments or neurodiversity .
A spokesperson for WECIL said , “ Vast amounts of income each month are lost due to the needs of disabled people being ignored . A huge potential amount of spending power , an estimated £ 274 billion , is missed by not accessing the Purple Pound . As accessibility is being talked about more within the consumer landscape , it is important to remember that by creating an accessible environment within your business you are contributing to a vision of equality and improving society as a whole . We can support you with this positive change .”
A vital part of the ‘ Accessible Somerset ’ project is the provision of the free webinars which are designed to educate businesses , inform attitudes and break down barriers .
If you are a Somerset business and would like to start your accessibility journey , book your free webinar slot here : www . eventbrite . co . uk / o / wecil-26963837821
To find out more about Accessible Somerset or get involved , contact the team by email at : disability . inc @ wecil . org . uk

10 Minutes With ... Annette Everard - Founder of Hummingbird HR Services

Annette Everard is the Founder of Hummingbird HR Services , a new Bath-based human resources firm dedicated to helping SMEs and their people to thrive . We met with Annette to find out more about her and the business .
How did you get into HR ? My first job after university was on a graduate programme with one of the large supermarket chains . One of the best friends I made there was the store ’ s HR Manager , and talking to her about her role piqued my interest . Workplace conduct 30 + years ago was different and I wanted to be involved in facilitating change . My next role managing a large team reinforced that I enjoyed recruiting , developing and supporting people to meet their performance goals . I made the move into HR starting in administration and moving up to advisor , running a shared service centre and finally becoming HR Business Partner , achieving my CIPD ( Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ) qualification along the way .
What were the drivers for setting up Hummingbird HR ?
We decided as a family to move to Bath nearly two years ago , so I had some time to consider whether to get a new full-time role in the area or do something different . I really liked the idea of working with multiple
businesses and from that came the idea of Hummingbird HR Services .
Hummingbird HR Services is all about helping SMEs who employ people , get the very best out of their teams . I understand that such businesses neither need or could justify the cost of having full or even part-time HR support . At Hummingbird we provide a flexible service based on the needs of the business and we ’ re committed to ensuring that our value-add always exceeds the cost .
When did you launch the business ? The business started up in September 2023 . I was fortunate that the organisation I worked for previously , also an SME , wanted to be my first client when I set up . Some early time has been spent ensuring that this relationship works really well as a boilerplate for new clients as they come on board .
How have you found starting up ? Overall , probably the things which took the most time were finalising the name of the business , for example do I go for something
like Annette Everard HR or a different name ? I think getting help from others where needed is really important . Areas such as our branding and website would look significantly different if I had not invested in professional help .
What type of businesses are you looking to work with ? Businesses who employ people and who typically will not have their own dedicated HR support . Those businesses may want to understand how well they do things , in which case we will offer a Hummingbird HR Health-check .
We are also looking for businesses who would like to effect change and need HR support for that . Those businesses may just want a friendly contact in case they need help . We are wanting to build relationships with businesses to be available to provide tailored friendly support . We ’ re also happy to be an extra pair of hands for ad hoc projects for those companies who may already have an HR team .
What makes Hummingbird different ? Some HR services firms provide more of a helpline model , where you may or may not get the support you need . This is more a call agent using FAQs and if you get passed to a qualified expert they will still not have invested in your business . With Hummingbird HR Services , you always get a qualified expert , and we will ensure we get to know your business . If needed , we can quickly meet face-to-face or over Teams .
What are your plans for 2024 ? I look forward to providing HR support to more SMEs in the area . On a personal note , we are in the process of buying a house , so I hope that all goes through well .
If you could offer one top HR tip , what would it be ? To be proactive in your HR strategy so that you have less staff problems to react to as they come up .
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