THREE Dorset companies have been honoured for showing disability awareness.

Charitable foundation The CRUMBS Project based in Bournemouth, Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth and pub chain Brewhouse and Kitchen, which has three branches locally, have been recognised for their support for disadvantaged young people.

The three companies all picked up trophies at the Springboard Awards for Excellence in London.

The CRUMBS Project brought home two awards winning in both the ‘diversity, equality and inclusion’ and the ‘disability confidence’ categories.

Brewhouse & Kitchen won the prize for ‘best apprenticeship strategy’, while Marsham Court Hotel took home the ‘business innovation’ accolade following its huge investment into making the hotel more accessible and inclusive.

All three Dorset companies have shown their commitment to improving their disability awareness when they joined the Removing Barriers project earlier this year.

The project, which has been devised by Dorset Careers Hub and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, looks to encourage and educate companies within the county on how best to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As more companies open their doors and welcome more employees with SEND, the ultimate goal is for them to become Disability Leaders – the highest tier within the Government’s Disability Confident programme.

Dorset Careers Hub Strategic Lead, Rebecca Phillips, said: “Congratulations to all three local companies.

“They’ve gone above and beyond in their commitment to becoming fully inclusive and accessible for both their customers and staff.

“We are very proud that they are leading the way within the county, influencing other employers of the benefits of becoming more disability aware.”

Since signing up to the Removing Barriers project earlier in the year, The CRUMBS Project has already reached Disability Confident Leader status.

Meanwhile, Marsham Court achieved the status of Disability Confident Employer, the second tier in the government scheme.

Brewhouse & Kitchen reached level two at the end of 2022 and has since been working with sendme2work, the consultancy appointed to run the project, to reach the top tier.

Ms Phillips added: “This is amazing progress within Dorset and clearly demonstrates that the Removing Barriers project is having an impact.”