A BURY organisation will be championing the disabled next month.

And Bury Employment Support and Training (BEST) will be urging companies to discover the advantages of employing people with disabilities.

BEST is organising a one-day practical conference, entitled "Beyond disability, See the worker," which will be staged on Thursday, September 7 at Old Trafford football ground.

Guest speakers from a range of industries will look at the business case for employing people with disabilities. They will call for a change in attitude to this topical issue by re-focusing on these people as an asset to companies, whether as customers or employees.

The conference will address practical ways of recruiting, retaining and accommodating employees with disabilities in order to help firms develop a diverse workforce strategy and reap the benefits in their business activities.

The conference is partly funded by the European Social Fund as part of a joint initiative with Stockport Council.

A CD-Rom, featuring a range of employers talking about their experience of recruiting a more diverse workforce, is being targeted at personnel officers.

Huw Davies from BEST says: "We are building on last year's highly successful conference by focusing strongly on the practical aspects of developing effective strategies for diversity in the workplace.

"In addition to workshops, led by experienced practitioners, there is also the chance to meet with agencies that can help companies take the next step."

He continued: "It will provide an informative and stimulating insight into the value of employing a diverse workforce."

For more information about the conference, call BEST on 253 6588.