The Disability Policy Centre

What The Disability Policy Centre does

The Disability Policy Centre (DPC) is a UK-based, independent not-for-profit policy think tank founded in December 2021 by Chloe Schendel-Wilson and Celia Hensman, and launched at Number 10 Downing Street on International Day of People with Disabilities. It is positioned as the first dedicated disability policy think tank in the United Kingdom, with a stated mission to develop policy solutions that remove barriers for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions across all areas of society, including employment, education, political representation, transport, social care, and welfare reform.

DPC's core output is research-driven: it produces policy reports such as Breaking Down Barriers, State of the Nation in SEND Education, Access2Funding, Power of Sport, and the Inclusion in Business Banking report, all distributed in accessible formats including standard PDF, easy-read, large-print, and audio. Alongside research, it offers four lines of bespoke consultancy — Diversity & Inclusion Training, Communications & Marketing, Policy & Strategy Development, and Brand Inclusion & Accessibility — delivered to private, public, and third-sector organisations. It also operates programme-level assets including The Disability Impact Pledge (signed by local councils and universities including Sefton Council and Sunderland University) and the Disabled Women in Politics Network. DPC is not a technology company and does not develop proprietary software.

Its business model combines fee-based professional services with what appears to be grant and partner funding, with any surpluses reinvested into policy work rather than distributed. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct, leveraging research publications, parliamentary engagement (events at the House of Commons, House of Lords, and City Hall), earned media coverage in outlets including BBC, The Guardian, the Financial Times, and The Telegraph, and a coalition of more than 40 partner organisations across disability advocacy, local government, and academia. Headcount is stated as 1-10, with a senior bench that includes a Director of Research from a Cambridge economics background, a Director of Communications, and Senior Policy Fellows holding concurrent academic roles at institutions such as Lancaster University, the University of Leeds, and the University of Liverpool.

Name

The Disability Policy Centre

Legal name

The Disability Policy Centre

Website

https://thedisabilitypolicycentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Disability Policy Centre is the UK's first dedicated disability policy think tank, founded in 2021 in London. It produces research and bespoke consultancy on employment, education, representation, and welfare for disabled people, serving private, public, and third-sector clients across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research & Consultancy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability policy research
• Policy think tank
• Diversity inclusion training
• Accessibility consulting
• Disability advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: The Disability Policy Centre offers consultancy services to organisations across private, public and third sectors, providing diversity & inclusion training, communications & marketing support, policy & strategy development, and brand inclusion & accessibility services. As a not-for-profit organisation, any profits from consultancy services are reinvested into the organisation to support policy reform and legislation change objectives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Disability Policy Centre is a UK-based not-for-profit policy think tank that develops policy solutions to remove barriers for disabled people. It delivers bespoke consultancy services to organisations across private, public, and third sectors, including diversity & inclusion training, communications & marketing accessibility support, policy & strategy development, and brand inclusion & accessibility. The organisation also conducts independent policy research, publishes reports, runs advocacy campaigns such as The Disability Impact Pledge, and convenes community networks including the Disabled Women in Politics Network.

Product overview

The Disability Policy Centre is a UK-based policy research think tank offering a portfolio of consultancy services (Diversity & Inclusion Training, Communications & Marketing, Policy & Strategy Development, and Brand Inclusion & Accessibility), advocacy programmes (The Disability Impact Pledge), and community networks (Disabled Women in Politics Network). The organisation does not offer a unified software product but provides research-driven consultancy and advocacy services aimed at improving accessibility and disability policy across organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Access2Funding: A campaign committed to transforming opportunities and outcomes for disabled entrepreneurs, improving equitable investment in disabled-owned and led businesses. The DPC served as co-founder and research partner for this initiative alongside Clu.
• The Disability Impact Pledge
• Disabled Women in Politics Network

Products and services

• Diversity & Inclusion Training Bespoke training programmes delivered to organisations to enhance awareness and understanding of inclusivity in the workplace, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and increasing productivity. Targeted at private, public, and third sector organisations.
• Communications & Marketing Bespoke communications and marketing packages ensuring organisations are accessible to disabled people, including website and communications auditing, social media accessibility, and diversity-led strategy development. Targeted at organisations seeking to improve accessibility of external communications.
• Policy & Strategy Development Inclusivity reviews of company policies and procedures, ensuring adherence to the Equality Act, and developing sustainable organisational strategies aligned with accessibility and dignity at work principles. Targeted at organisations needing policy and compliance support.
• Brand Inclusion & Accessibility Brand inclusivity packages supporting organisations with accessibility-focused branding development, organisational culture transformation toward proactive accessibility, and social impact amplification. Targeted at organisations seeking to embed accessibility into their brand and culture.
• The Disability Impact Pledge A commitment framework for local councils, universities and organisations to improve services and accessibility for disabled people, with signatories demonstrating commitment to accessibility across all services. Targeted at public sector bodies and other organisations.
• Disabled Women in Politics Network An informal cross-party community space held bi-monthly for d/Deaf women, disabled women and women with long-term health conditions who are elected representatives, activists, or campaigners. Targeted at disabled women in political and campaign roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Government adopted PE training recommendation in new Inclusion 2028 Programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• SodaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Research partner for the 'Power of Sport' report, which highlights barriers disabled people face in sport both as fans and participants. The report was launched at the House of Lords and received support from the Minister for Social Security and Disability and Lord Bird.
• Nimbus DisabilityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Social enterprise partner for the 'Power of Sport' report launch. Nimbus Disability works to create a more accessible world in sports and collaborated on the research and launch event at Parliament.
• ZoomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024Hosted a roundtable in partnership with Zoom at their London Headquarters on how flexible working can benefit disabled people and carers. Drew Smith (Head of Government Relations, Zoom) hosted the event with Wendy Chamberlain MP as chair.
• Local Government AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2023Partnership on the 'Be a Councillor' campaign to increase disabled representation in local government. Joint events held in Westminster with councillors from different political parties sharing experiences.
• West Midlands Combined AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2023Collaborated on 'Ensuring the West Midlands is an Exemplar Region for Disabled People' project, hosting workshops and developing recommendations for the region. Joined by Mayor Andy Street for roundtables on community, housing, transport, skills, employment, and health.
• International Finance CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2023Participated in IFC panel discussion on supporting unpaid carers in the workforce, bringing disability policy expertise to international development finance discussions.
• Mile End InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2023Partnered with the Mile End Institute (Queen Mary University of London) to host events on inclusive education and London wellbeing, drawing on DPC's SEND Education research.
• WelcoMeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2023Partnership on Accessible Voting research project, working together to collect new data and research on barriers disabled people face when voting, with the ambition to remove these barriers through working with Local and National Governments.
• Centre for LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2023Collaborated with Centre for London on a panel discussion exploring wellbeing in London, contributing to the organisation's regional work on making London accessible.
• The Equality TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2022Hosted 'The Inequality of Disability...The New Normal' event discussing the state of play for disability rights in the UK and future of disability policy.
• Peer Medical FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2022Joint event on 'Dismantling Medical Ableism' discussing challenges faced by disabled students and how medicine can push for inclusive education.
• Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Participated in VODG's 'Commission on COVID-19, Ableism and Racism' and annual conference discussions on adult social care. Collaborated on intersectionality discussions covering disparities for disabled people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups.
• Lending Standards BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2022Worked alongside The Lending Standards Board in formulating the 'Inclusion in Business Banking & Credit: Disability & Other Access Needs' report, providing evidence and best practice responses.
• Policy ConnectcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 August 2022Policy Connect's ATech (Assistive and Accessible Technology) Policy Lab is led by DPC's Senior Policy Fellow Robert McLaren. Policy Connect is a cross-party think tank where DPC staff contribute to tech and disability policy work.
• CluflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Co-founders of #Access2Funding campaign committed to transforming opportunities and outcomes for disabled entrepreneurs. Clu and DPC work together as research partners collecting data on barriers disabled founders face when seeking investment.
• The Valuable 500coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2022Partner in the #Access2Funding campaign focused on improving equitable investment in disabled-owned and led businesses. The Valuable 500 is a global community of leaders working to make business more inclusive.
• Disability Rights UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partner in the #Access2Funding campaign and collaborator on various policy initiatives including welfare reform analysis, equality events, and the Inequality of Disability report.
• Federation of Small BusinessescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partner in the #Access2Funding campaign launch, bringing expertise on small business support and entrepreneurship to the initiative.
• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partner in the #Access2Funding campaign, contributing expertise on innovation and business growth support for disabled entrepreneurs.
• Bethnal Green VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partner in the #Access2Funding campaign launch, providing venture capital expertise to the initiative on barriers for disabled entrepreneurs.
• Shaw TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2022Collaboration on 'The Power of Diversity' roundtable in Parliament celebrating the Disability Power 100, and various events highlighting the importance of disabled representation. Shaw Trust hosts the annual Disability Power 100 awards.
• All-Party Parliamentary Group for DisabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2022Collaborated with the APPG for Disability on the 'Power of Diversity' roundtable and other parliamentary events focused on disability representation and rights.
• ElectHercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Partnership with ElectHer for the 'Disabled Women in Politics Network', an informal cross-party community space for d/Deaf women, disabled women and women with long-term health conditions who are elected representatives, activists, or campaigners. The network creates a supportive space for women with shared experiences to come together.
• Centenary Action GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Joint partnership with Centenary Action Group for the Disabled Women in Politics Network. Centenary Action focuses on breaking down barriers to disabled women's involvement in politics and has collaborated with DPC on multiple reports and campaigns including the Access to Elected Office funding reinstatement campaign.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resolution Foundation: UK think tank focused on living standards, employment and welfare. Highly comparable to DPC's Director of Research / welfare and employment policy strand given overlapping methods (evidence-based research, parliamentary engagement) and focus on welfare reform affecting disabled people.
• Disability Rights UK: UK national disability rights and policy organisation led by and representing disabled people. Closest direct comparator to DPC given overlapping focus on policy influence, welfare reform, accessibility legislation and coalition advocacy in the UK.
• Inclusion London: London-based consortium of Deaf and disabled people's organisations. Comparable to DPC in delivering policy advocacy, events and accessible resources, with similar focus on the lived experience of disabled Londoners.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute for Deaf People: UK charity for the deaf community and those with hearing loss. Comparable to DPC on accessibility policy and influencing public services, with similar Parliamentary and media engagement patterns.
• Scope: One of the UK's largest disability charities. Overlaps DPC in producing research on disability employment, social care and welfare, but operates at a far larger scale as a frontline service provider rather than a policy-only think tank.
• Leonard Cheshire: UK and international disability charity focused on employability, education and social care. Comparable to DPC on disability employment and social care policy research, though broader in service delivery and global reach.
• Mencap: Major UK charity for people with learning disabilities, with significant policy and campaigning activity. Comparable to DPC on advocacy outcomes (welfare, education) but delivers parallel direct services rather than specialising as a think tank.
• Sense: UK disability charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness. Compares to DPC through its policy influencing work and stakeholder events, though primarily a service-delivery charity.

Emerging players

• Demos: UK cross-party think tank conducting research on inclusion, welfare and equity. Compares to DPC through think-tank operating model, research-publication-driven authority and policy influencing, though with much broader thematic remit.

Others

• Policy Connect: UK cross-party parliamentary think tank where DPC's Senior Policy Fellow for Technology serves as Policy Director. Compares to DPC through policy lab structure, parliamentary channels and cross-party coalition building, but covers a broader portfolio beyond disability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DisPolCentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/thedisabilitypolicycentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-disability-policy-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Disability Policy Centre