Ethos

CEDS operates according to Social Firm principles. This means that where appropriate and possible we use disabled and disadvantaged people in our projects as researchers or subject participants. This is carefully balanced with the need to provide robust and efficient research to fully satisfy the needs of our clients.

In addition to providing meaningful opportunities for our disabled researchers, the principle benefit to CEDS and our clients by adopting this approach is that we gain an unprecedented insight to the desires and requirements of those with disabilities.

This has proved invaluable to many of our previous projects and we have, therefore, established an associate and subject panel which enables us to draw upon the skills and input of around 1,500 people across the UK, representing a wide range of age, disability, professional background and experience.

Just in case you were wondering…

A Social Firm is a business created for the employment of people who have a disability or are otherwise disadvantaged in the labour market. It is a business which uses its market-orientated production of goods and services to pursue its social mission.

A significant number of its employees will be people with a disability or other disadvantage in the labour market. Every worker is paid a market-rate wage or salary, appropriate to the work. Work opportunities should be equal between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged employees. All employees should have the same employment rights and obligations.