PENNY Mordaunt, the Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, visited Foxes Academy in Minehead last Thursday for an event at Foxes Hotel attended by employers from the South West.

After a dinner prepared and served by students, seven of them gave a presentation on why they feel passionate about working, and what they think the Government can do to decrease the learning disability employment gap.

The current employment rate stands at 5.8 per cent in England, compared to 86 per cent for the academy’s leavers.

Ms Mordaunt said:? “Foxes Academy is a real asset to the area, helping empower local disabled people in the workplace.

“As a leader in our Disability Confident scheme, they are also showing employers across the country how they can make the most of the huge pool of untapped talent that disabled people offer.

?“In the last year alone almost 300,000 disabled people have moved into work and I am determined to build on this progress by highlighting the excellent example that employers like Foxes are setting for the rest of the UK.”