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Ukraine now has a practical online guide to barrier-free business

24/ 02/ 2021
  On February 23, there was a presentation of the Business without Barriers platform integrated into the Diia.Business. The platform was created on the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska to promote the concept of inclusiveness in the business environment. On behalf of the European Business Association, Olga Boiko, EBA Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee Coordinator, took part in the presentation.  The aim of the project is to promote barrier-free principles among small and medium enterprises by presenting successful cases of Ukrainian companies. Today it is generally accepted that the issues of diversity and inclusiveness should be addressed mostly by large companies that have sufficient resources and stable profits. Meanwhile, more and more research indicates that a diverse work environment has a direct impact on productivity, the image of the employer, and the financial results of the company, regardless of size. The SME sector has a number of advantages for implementing the inclusiveness concept. First, small businesses are more mobile. Due to fewer formalities and approval procedures, they respond to market demands and apply innovations a lot faster, surely, if the budget allows. Perhaps that is why the most prominent projects, including those in the field of social entrepreneurship, are being implemented at the SME level. Second, small business creates thousands of jobs, the basis for regional development and the formation of a strong middle class. According to the Mineconomy, in 2019 the share of small and micro enterprises in the national GDP was 16%, and together with medium-sized businesses - 55%. Also, small, and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine account for 99.8% and employ 79% of the population. Therefore, if we want to approach the issue of employment of people with disabilities and improve their standard of living comprehensively, we cannot do without the involvement of this category of entrepreneurs. Third, small businesses, which are not always sure of the correctness of their steps, need support in the form of constant effective and affordable communication. Thus, we are talking about information support for entrepreneurs and a story about the opportunities for the employment of people with disabilities - tax benefits, loyalty, and increased team productivity and strengthened HR brand, a positive brand image in the eyes of consumers, which can be competitive advantages that attract new target audience and increase profits, enter EU markets and the opportunity to integrate into the supply chains of international companies, obtain loans from international organizations, etc. Olga Boiko. EBA Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee Coordinator. We need to remember that small business dreams of one day reaching the medium size, and the medium dreams of becoming big. So, the successful experience of big business should be exemplified. And for this, we should foster more and more good practices and talk about them. We had the great honor to provide expert support to the Business without Barriers project, which we believe will be a real guide for responsible business. The European Business Association hopes that in the coming years, barrier-free principles will be not only commonplace but an advantage of Ukrainian business in the international arena. For reference: the platform was created with the participation of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and NGO Barrier-free within the UNDP project “Civil Society for Democracy and Human Rights in Ukraine” with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.   Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.

On February 23, there was a presentation of the “Business without Barriers” platform integrated into the Diia.Business. The platform was created on the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska to promote the concept of inclusiveness in the business environment. On behalf of the European Business Association, Olga Boiko, EBA Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee Coordinator, took part in the presentation. 

The aim of the project is to promote barrier-free principles among small and medium enterprises by presenting successful cases of Ukrainian companies.

Today it is generally accepted that the issues of diversity and inclusiveness should be addressed mostly by large companies that have sufficient resources and stable profits. Meanwhile, more and more research indicates that a diverse work environment has a direct impact on productivity, the image of the employer, and the financial results of the company, regardless of size.

The SME sector has a number of advantages for implementing the inclusiveness concept.

First, small businesses are more mobile. Due to fewer formalities and approval procedures, they respond to market demands and apply innovations a lot faster, surely, if the budget allows. Perhaps that is why the most prominent projects, including those in the field of social entrepreneurship, are being implemented at the SME level.

Second, small business creates thousands of jobs, the basis for regional development and the formation of a strong middle class. According to the Mineconomy, in 2019 the share of small and micro enterprises in the national GDP was 16%, and together with medium-sized businesses – 55%. Also, small, and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine account for 99.8% and employ 79% of the population. Therefore, if we want to approach the issue of employment of people with disabilities and improve their standard of living comprehensively, we cannot do without the involvement of this category of entrepreneurs.

Third, small businesses, which are not always sure of the correctness of their steps, need support in the form of constant effective and affordable communication. Thus, we are talking about information support for entrepreneurs and a story about the opportunities for the employment of people with disabilities – tax benefits, loyalty, and increased team productivity and strengthened HR brand, a positive brand image in the eyes of consumers, which can be competitive advantages that attract new target audience and increase profits, enter EU markets and the opportunity to integrate into the supply chains of international companies, obtain loans from international organizations, etc.

Olga Boiko EBA Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee Coordinator
We need to remember that small business dreams of one day reaching the medium size, and the medium dreams of becoming big. So, the successful experience of big business should be exemplified. And for this, we should foster more and more good practices and talk about them. We had the great honor to provide expert support to the Business without Barriers project, which we believe will be a real guide for responsible business.

The European Business Association hopes that in the coming years, barrier-free principles will be not only commonplace but an advantage of Ukrainian business in the international arena.

For reference: the platform was created with the participation of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and NGO “Barrier-free” within the UNDP project “Civil Society for Democracy and Human Rights in Ukraine” with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

 

Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel EBAUkraine.

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