The purpose of Designing a first-shot targeted recruitment project: A Step-by-Step Project Management Guide is to help employers design and implement targeted recruitment initiatives that increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The guide introduces a “first-shot” recruitment model in which vacancies are initially offered to a pool of qualified candidates with disabilities before opening to the broader labour market. The objective is to help employers access overlooked talent, improve disability inclusion, and create more equitable labour markets while maintaining a focus on skills, capability, and job fit.
The resource was developed as part of the Disability-Confident Employers’ Toolkit, produced by the Inclusive Futures consortium through its Inclusion Works initiative. Authored by Susan Scott-Parker and Simon Brown, the guide draws on employer-led best practices, international disability inclusion principles, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was created through collaboration among disability organizations, employer networks, and development partners, including Sightsavers, with support from UK Aid.
The guide is intended for business leaders, human resources professionals, hiring managers, recruitment teams, and disability employment partners seeking to improve recruitment outcomes for people with disabilities. It is also relevant for Business Disability Networks (BDNs), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and employment service providers that support inclusive hiring initiatives.
