About

In 2001 organisations from Bulgaria (Marie Curie Association, University of Plovdiv, Regional Development Agency), UK (Mouzer Associates Coventry & Warwickshire Learning & Skills Council) and Greece (University of Aegean and Trade Association of Rhodes) developed and implemented the idea of a disability employers network. Each country set up their own (BG and UK) while UK partners were able to further extend theirs. Then more and more partners from other EU countries welcomed the idea and we decided to address the needs of every disadvantaged person, and not just the people with disabilities. Therefore we combined our efforts to combat discrimination in accessing the open labour market or at workplace for any type of obstacles and barriers or even differences that may cause disadvantages to people, such as age, disability or poor health status, etc.

As a result of this, the concept for the Social Employers Network (SEN) emerged. The Social Employers Network is a network set up to encourage, consult and support employers in recruitment and retainment of any kind of disadvantaged or disabled workers.

Networking is not a new concept. The first employers' networks were set up in the middle of the eighties. They are very well known and widely distributed in many regions in UK and other European countries. They have proved their efficiency in development of equal employment opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people.

Membership is open to all employers, institutions and organisations that share the objectives of the Social Employers Network.

Within a EU legislation context

A disadvantaged worker is:
(a) any person who has not been in regular paid employment for the previous 6 months;
(b) any person who has not attained an upper secondary educational or vocational qualification (ISCED 3);
(c) any person over the age of 50 years;
(d) any person living as a single adult with one or more dependents;
(e) any woman working in a sector or profession characterised by a gender imbalance which is 25 % more significant than the average national gender imbalance;
(f) any person who is a member of an ethnic minority within a Member State and who requires development of his or her linguistic, vocational training or work experience profile to enhance prospects of gaining access to stable employment.

A disabled worker is:
(a) recognised as disabled under national law, or
(b) having a recognised limitation which results from physical, mental or psychological impairment in respect of whom a competent authority of a Member States has indicated the precise level of disability as compared to a particular job position.

Founding members

BULGARIA
1. Marie Curie Association (http://www.marie-curie-bg.org/)
2. Municipality of Sliven (http://www.sliven.bg)
3. Zgura-M Ltd.
4. Euroconsulting Ltd.

BELGIUM
1. PhoenixKM (http://www.phoenixkm.eu)

NORTHERN IRELAND
1. USEL (http://www.usel.co.uk/)

NETHERLANDS
1. CEDRIS (http://www.cedris.nl/web/Pages/default.aspx)

POLAND
1. UNIVERSITY OF LODZ (http://www.uni.lodz.pl/ang/portal)

ROMANIA
1. FOUNDATION H (http://www.fundatiah.ro)

SLOVENIA
1. UNIVERSITY OF LIUBLIANA (http://www.pef-uni.lj.si)
2. DOBROVITA (http://www.dobrovita.com)
3. SENT (http://www.sent-si.org)

SPAIN
1. EHLABE (http://www.ehlabe.org)

SWEDEN
1. SAMHALL (http://www.samhall.se/)

UK
1. REMPLOY (http://www.remploy.co.uk/)
2. FRENCH AND BURT
3. EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT, THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE (http://www.eus.org.uk)