Driven by Difference - Disability Confident Level 2 Employers

We are thrilled and incredibly proud to announce that TES 2000 Ltd has officially achieved the Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) certification.

This is more than a badge; it is a celebration of the genuinely inclusive culture and proactive support systems we have built. This Level 2 status confirms that we have embedded accessible and inclusive practices into how we recruit, support, and enable every member of our team to excel. We are a people-first business, actively promoting inclusivity throughout TES, whether through our social media, newsletters, or interactions with each other.

The Power of Leadership and Culture

Having personal experience of living with neurodiversity, our Joint Managing Director, Bianca Molloy, champions inclusivity at TES from the very top. This is not just about words, but about celebrating and empowering the differences within our diverse workforce.

With her unique perspective, neurodiversity has become a core driver of how TES operates, demonstrating that difference is actively valued and embraced. This visibility from the top signals to every employee and potential candidate that:

1. Difference is a Strength: Diverse thinking and resilience are valued. From members of the Board and throughout our organisation, we celebrate the development of all our people.

2. Lived Experience Shapes Policy: Our commitment to acceptance and accommodation is rooted in real-world understanding.

Building an Inclusive Workforce: Our Recruitment and Support

Inclusivity at TES begins before day one, by designing transparent processes that remove common barriers.

1. Accessible Recruitment Process

We ensure accessibility and fairness from the initial application stage:

• We have simplified our application process to only need basic information, along with contact details for those who may need assistance.

• We look beyond a CV, using relaxed and conversational screening calls without pressure to get the best out of candidates.

• We proactively check for and offer reasonable adjustments before the interview and offer stage, and ask about accommodations needed if they are successful. We offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

2. Clear, Accessible Onboarding

Our commitment to simplicity continues through onboarding. We maintain the philosophy of only gathering necessary information and ensuring the process is clear and welcoming.

• Transparency and Preparation: For candidates brand new to the industry, we hold detailed information sessions ahead of joining. These sessions are vital for ensuring candidates are fully informed and confident, providing a good insight into the role expectations, the tasks they will be doing, and the necessary steps for onboarding, which includes the Network Rail medical and drug and alcohol screening and e-learning.

• Foundational Training: EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) training is part of our induction process for every person who works at TES, ensuring all new team members understand and uphold our inclusive culture from day one.

3. Proactive Well-being and Adjustments

We ensure that every employee has the tools and environment they need to succeed, supporting both visible and invisible differences:

• Structured Well-being Support: Our commitment is organised and ongoing, led by an active Mental Health and Wellbeing group that meets monthly to implement inclusive strategies. This group regularly shares resources with the workforce.

• Supportive Resources: We have accessible and proactive Mental Health First Aiders. Our Head of People Operations supports those with health conditions effectively, through identifying and risk assessing any medical needs, along with referrals to Occupational Health and medical providers. Our managers have also received training on how they can support staff who are sick or absent from work.

• Reasonable Adjustments & Success: The success of these adjustments is clearly seen in our own team: our Talent Acquisition Partner, who has ADHD, has received instrumental support—including specific adjustments and flexibility from understanding managers—allowing them to grow exponentially within their role and truly make it their own. We have been successful in hiring those with disabilities, with them having a long-standing career with us at TES.

Future-Proofing Our Industry with Diverse Talent

Our industry is facing the critical challenge of an ageing workforce. Our Disability Confident status is just one of the powerful, proactive steps we are taking to secure our future talent pipeline:

• Tapping into the Best Talent: We actively engage with Jobcentre Plus, along with NHS IPS (Individual Placement Support), where we have been successful in offering opportunities to candidates via these avenues.

• Driving Innovation and Growth: The difference in thinking that neurodivergent individuals bring is a tremendous strength that the rail industry thrives on. It helps unleash innovation and creativity and leads to new ways of working by seeing the bigger picture and understanding how the complex, smaller pieces fit within it. We are continually reviewing our processes to ensure we are inclusive and have adapted a simpler language for ease of understanding in communications. We actively provide apprenticeships and currently have three apprentices within TES, with the view to expand on this, along with work trial placements.

• Valuing Feedback: We regularly request feedback through employee engagement surveys, internal communications, one-to-ones, and check-ins, and implement action plans to show we value our people.

This is not just about social responsibility; it is about smart, strategic growth that ensures TES remains resilient, innovative, and at the forefront of the industry.

Our Promise Moving Forward

We are incredibly proud to wear the Level 2 badge, but this is just part of our ongoing journey. Our commitment is to continually review, improve, and embed these inclusive practices even deeper into the fabric of TES.

Thank you to everyone for your commitment to making TES the successful and genuinely supportive company it is.

Next stop is Disability Confident Leader Level 3 status!

If you would like to explore how TES can support you in your career, please do contact us at careers@tes2000.co.uk