Seema Flower Attends House of Lords Reception on Accessible Transport Policy — A Powerful Reminder of Why Inclusive Recruitment Matters
Last night, Seema Flower attended a significant reception at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL on behalf of the Accessible Transport Policy Commission. Held in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace, the event brought together parliamentarians, industry leaders, disabled people, and accessibility specialists to discuss the future of accessible transport across the UK.
For Blind Ambition Recruitment, the themes of the evening could not be more relevant. Accessible transport is not just about travel—it is about access to employment, opportunity, independence and social inclusion. Without reliable, accessible transport, blind and partially sighted people are effectively locked out of the workforce long before they even reach the interview stage.
As Seema often says:
“Accessibility isn’t a favour — it’s the foundation of equality. Without it, talented people are shut out of work before they even get through the door.” — Seema Flower
This is exactly why Blind Ambition Recruitment exists: to close the employment gap, connect inclusive employers with skilled blind and partially sighted candidates, and champion a system where accessibility is woven into every stage of a person’s journey.
Leaders Calling for Systemic Change
The evening featured powerful contributions from figures working at the highest levels of government and transport policy.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL
As Chair of the Accessible Transport Policy Commission, Baroness Grey-Thompson emphasised that accessible transport is a human right. She underlined the need for cross-sector collaboration and evidence-led solutions that reflect the lived experiences of disabled travellers.
Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Accessibility, Department for Transport
Simon Lightwood MP reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving accessibility through investment, policy reform and better staff training. His message was clear: accessibility must be built into infrastructure and culture, not retrofitted.
Emma Partlow, CEO of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat)
In her first major address as CEO, Emma Partlow spoke about bridging evidence and lived experience, ensuring that disabled people shape every stage of accessible transport design.
Clive Gilbert, Head of Accessible Transport at Policy Connect
Clive Gilbert highlighted the progress made so far, while reminding attendees that thousands still face exclusion due to persistent gaps in transport accessibility.
Transport and Employment: The Missing Link
For blind and partially sighted people, transport accessibility directly determines whether they can participate in the workforce. The UK’s staggering 75% unemployment rate among visually impaired people is not caused by a lack of talent — but a lack of accessible systems, inclusive employers, and equitable opportunity.
This is where Blind Ambition Recruitment is driving change.
Why Transport Matters to Inclusive Employment
- If you cannot reach an interview, you cannot secure a job.
- If your commute is unsafe, unreliable or inaccessible, you cannot sustain employment.
- If mobility support is inconsistent, flexible working and hybrid models become essential — yet many employers still overlook these adjustments.
By addressing these issues together — transport accessibility and inclusive hiring — the UK can unlock a vast, overlooked pool of skilled candidates.
A Call to Action for Employers
The event highlighted a powerful truth: disabled people must be represented not only in policy discussions, but in the workforce itself. When blind and partially sighted people are employed in transport, engineering, customer service, HR, planning, digital design, research and leadership, accessibility becomes embedded naturally into the systems we all rely on.
This is the mission behind Blind Ambition Recruitment — the UK’s specialist jobs platform connecting inclusive employers with blind and partially sighted professionals.
If your organisation wants to:
- diversify its workforce,
- meet its equality, accessibility and ESG commitments,
- reach motivated blind and partially sighted candidates,
- or demonstrate genuine leadership in inclusion…
…then advertising your vacancies on our platform is one of the simplest and most impactful steps you can take.
Post your roles today:
👉 https://blindambition.co.uk/recruitment/
Together, we can reduce the employment gap and help make the UK a world leader in accessible and inclusive work.
Why Events Like This Matter
For Seema, the House of Lords event reinforced a truth she experiences daily through her work:
“When disabled people are part of the conversation — at every level — accessibility stops being an aspiration and becomes a reality.” — Seema Flower
Transport is access to work, healthcare, education, community and independence. Without it, equality cannot exist. The progress being made through the Accessible Transport Policy Commission is encouraging — and Blind Ambition Recruitment is committed to amplifying this momentum by ensuring that employment opportunities are equally accessible.
Call to Action for Jobseekers
If you are a blind or partially sighted jobseeker, explore hundreds of roles and join our supportive community:
👉 https://www.blindambition.co.uk/training-support/
Join our WhatsApp community: 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrO-R-9cIf0QJo1qyVE1wyhr62rSx_ySNJb8Z87OAddxLqfg/viewform
