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Francis Davis is the Professor of Communities and Public Policy at the University of Birmingham. He has been appointed to the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) by Penny Mordaunt, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work.
The main focus for Professor Davis will be to explore:
- sustainable, local programmes to create jobs for disabled people
- more support for disabled entrepreneurs
- more investment in social enterprise linked to jobs for disabled people
Professor Francis Davis said:
From local British communities to exports and international development, disabled people and their carers have the skills, aspirations and potential to build new ventures and to work for firms of all shapes and sizes. They are well placed to address pressing needs through the social and public innovations they create.
I look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions, and others in the public, private and social enterprise sectors, to explore new opportunities. This will draw on the knowledge and research of colleagues in Birminghams world class university departments to pursue our collective aspiration to help more disabled people fulfil their potential.
Professor Davis has agreed to work with the Office for Disability Issues and the Work and Health Unit on progressing the commitment made in Improving lives: the work, health and disability green paper for the public sector to lead by example and explore how public procurement can deliver wider objectives as well as value for money.