Message from Sally Davis,
CEO BT Wholesale and BT’s disability and inclusion Champion
Welcome to BT's Inclusion website. I am extremely proud to be BT's disability and inclusion champion, a role that includes the responsibility for ensuring equality of access to services for all our customers, with a specific focus on older and disabled people.
One of the most meaningful attributes of a society is how anyone who faces additional challenges through difference or disability is treated. Communication is a vital ingredient in modern life, which most people take for granted, but some cannot. It is important to remember that in the UK alone there are more than 20 million people - around one in three of the population - who are classified as having some form of disability or who are over the age of 60.
Without additional support and services, many of them would be left cut-off from the daily interactions that are so meaningful to us, as well as a lifeline to family, medical professionals etc. This impact is greater on the most vulnerable groups in our society. At BT, we believe that challenging and overcoming barriers to communication is an essential part of what we do as a company. We know that new technology can enhance the quality of life of all our customers.
The role of disability and inclusion champion is more than just a title; it is an important and ongoing brief to carry the inclusion message around the company, including at board level, as well as out to suppliers, partners and other key stakeholders.
Everyone in BT should be aware of what we do to promote inclusion, be very proud of what we have achieved so far, and be constantly looking for ways to improve and add to our existing activities.
For more than 20 years we have been providing specific or adapted products and services for older and disabled people. Many products went on to become overall market leaders, proving we got the demand and the design just right. In fact, inclusive design is another area where we strive to be a market leader by building in the needs of older and disabled people from day one. Our BT disability user panel comprises a number of BT employees, many with disabilities themselves, who act as a first point of feedback and idea filtering to ensure as a company we are on the right track.
To ensure that our customers get the right products for them, we have also invested in supporting a network of 'Try Before You Buy' (TBYB) centres around the country. These allow customers to evaluate products, with friendly assistance in a non sales environment.
This is not the only way in which we get direct customer feedback. We spend time meeting with healthcare professionals, people with disabilities and older people, and their representative organisations, to share knowledge and ideas. We do this via many forums - exhibitions, TBYB centres and dedicated meetings - to ensure that we are keeping everyone fully informed about the products and services we offer, and they have an opportunity to provide feedback and new ideas.
When I took on this role, I was aware that inclusion was an important part of our overall strategy to maintain and enhance the reputation of the company. I was also aware of the importance of the older and disabled customer group as a significant contributor to our revenue. What I had not fully understood was just how highly valued and valuable our inclusion work is to older and disabled customers, genuinely making a difference to their lives every day.
This drives our determination to maintain our position as one of the leading organisations for supporting older and disabled customers.
I hope you find this website a first and significant step to helping you, or someone you know, make more of communications.
Sally Davis
BT’s disability and inclusion Champion
