The Ability People
The Ability People is a UK disability-led recruitment and DEI consultancy founded in 2018, employing around 13 staff to deliver keynote speaking, employer branding, culture assessment, and physical environment advisory services to enterprise and mid-market UK employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Ability People does
The Ability People (TAP), trading under Ability Squared Limited, is a UK-based, disability-led recruitment consultancy and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advisory firm founded in 2018 by Paralympian Liz Johnson and recruitment veteran Steve Carter. The company employs approximately 13 staff, many of whom have lived experience of disability or are former Paralympians. Its service offering is structured around four pillars — keynote speaking engagements, employer brand advisory, culture assessment, and physical environment assessment — alongside direct recruitment consultancy services delivered to enterprise and mid-market UK employers.
TAP generates revenue through bespoke, multi-year consulting engagements priced on a custom basis. Its delivery model is human-led and consultancy-driven rather than software-based; the firm's website incorporates third-party accessibility tooling from Recite.me, but there is no indication of proprietary technology, a platform, or AI/ML capabilities. Customers are primarily UK-based employers seeking to improve disability inclusion outcomes through recruitment process redesign, workplace adjustments, and cultural change programmes. The firm's thought-leadership footprint — including a 2019 LinkedIn Talent Connect speaker slot, the BBC 100 Women 2019 recognition of co-founder Liz Johnson, and inclusion on the Shaw Trust Power List — has been its primary demand-generation channel, supplemented by partnerships with Guidant Group, Able Magazine and Recite.me.
The Ability People firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Ability People
- Legal name
- Ability Squared Limited
- Website
- https://theabilitypeople.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Ability People is a UK disability-led recruitment and DEI consultancy founded in 2018, employing around 13 staff to deliver keynote speaking, employer branding, culture assessment, and physical environment advisory services to enterprise and mid-market UK employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Ability People industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Inclusion Consulting
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AT Implementation, Coaching & Professional Development (Teachers/Staff) (EDAKAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
Keywords
Where The Ability People is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Ability People business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting and Training Services: Revenue is generated through consulting services, workshops, keynote sessions, culture assessments, and bespoke training programs delivered to enterprises. Services focus on helping organizations build inclusive cultures, improve employer branding for disability inclusion, assess physical and cultural environments, and deliver DEI education programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free initial assessment followed by custom engagement pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Ability People product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ability People is a disability-led recruitment and inclusion consultancy that helps UK organisations build authentically inclusive workplaces. Its core offerings span four pillars: inspirational DEI keynote sessions delivered by disabled professionals and former Paralympians, employer brand services covering recruitment and onboarding processes, culture assessment and development programmes, and physical environment accessibility assessments. Services are sold on a custom-engagement basis to enterprise clients.
Product overview
The Ability People (TAP) operates as a disability-led recruitment and consultancy firm offering a suite of human-powered services rather than a software product. The core offering consists of four integrated service pillars: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion keynote sessions; Employer Brand services covering recruitment and onboarding processes; Culture Assessment & Development addressing organisational DNA and behaviors; and Physical Environment Assessments evaluating workplace accessibility. These services are delivered through inspirational sessions, workshops, consulting engagements, and environmental assessments conducted by a team of disabled professionals who share their lived experiences to drive authentic cultural change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Keynote Sessions Inspirational keynote sessions delivered by The Ability People's disability-led team, providing first-hand understanding of disability and focusing on capabilities. Available in-person or via digital channels for audiences of any size within enterprise clients.
- Employer Brand Services Comprehensive review and rebuilding of recruitment processes, pre-employment procedures, onboarding structures, Day 1 integration, performance management equity, and employee retention strategies to create fair and inclusive experiences for enterprise clients.
- Culture Assessment & Development Deep analysis and transformation of organisational culture including processes, language, performance measures, and embedded DNA around disability, with training of able employees to support colleagues comfortably. Targeted at enterprise clients undergoing culture change.
- Physical Environment Assessment Evaluation of workplace accessibility, entry requirements, facilities, and modification opportunities, including processes for requesting and implementing adjustments to IT, security, and the physical workplace. Delivered to enterprise clients.
- Disability Recruitment Consultancy Disability-led recruitment service connecting disabled talent with inclusive employers, positioning The Ability People as the UK's first disability-led recruitment consultancy.
- Inspirational Sessions & Workshops Workshops and sessions in which team members share lived experiences, bust myths, and engage audiences to build confidence in working towards inclusive culture. Delivered by consultants who have achieved success in sport and business.
Quantifiable outcome
- Access to untapped talent pool of over 5 million disabled individuals in the UK seeking employment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Ability People
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Ability People technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Ability People partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Guidant GroupminorBen Weston (Head of Business Services for Guidant Group) discussed Guidant Group's partnership with TAP. The partnership focuses on disability inclusion in recruitment practices and was featured in Able Magazine coverage of TAP's launch.
- Able MagazineminorTAP became members of Able Magazine's 'Be The Difference' Employment Initiative. Through this collaboration, TAP advertises jobs on Able Magazine's website to encourage employers to increase diversity in the workplace.
- LinkedIncoreTAP co-founder Liz Johnson was invited to speak at LinkedIn Talent Connect conference (selected from nearly 500 applicants) and participated in Q&A sessions with LinkedIn's talent acquisition and HR teams. Liz was also featured in LinkedIn's blog article 'Top 5 Tips for Creating a More Inclusive Workplace'.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Ability People competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- myDisabilityjobs: UK-focused specialist recruitment platform for disabled job seekers. Overlaps with TAP's recruitment and employer-brand services targeting inclusive employers.
- Open Inclusion: UK disability-led consultancy offering research, training and strategic advice on disability inclusion to employers. Direct overlap with TAP's consulting and culture assessment services.
- The Clear Company: UK-based DEI consultancy providing training, strategy and inclusion programmes to employers. Direct competitor on the broader DEI training and culture-transformation work that complements TAP's disability-specific focus.
- PurpleLight Consulting: Disability-owned consultancy providing workplace disability inclusion training and accessibility services. Closely mirrors TAP's lived-experience-led value proposition and target buyer (HR/people leaders).
- Purple (Purple Story): UK-based disability inclusion consultancy offering training, audits and strategic advice to employers on accessibility and disability inclusion. Closest direct competitor to TAP, addressing the same UK enterprise buyers with a similar services-led model.
- Evenbreak: UK disability-led specialist job board and recruitment service for disabled candidates. Directly competes with TAP's recruitment consultancy pillar and shares the disability-led positioning in the UK market.
- Business Disability Forum: UK membership organisation that supports employers on disability inclusion through training, resources, and the Disability Standard benchmark. Competes with TAP for the same HR/DEI buyer budgets and offers overlapping training and culture-assessment services.
Emerging players
- Valuable 500: Global disability inclusion movement of 500+ CEOs working to advance disability inclusion in business. Adjacent to TAP's mission and engages similar enterprise buyers, though focused on commitments and pledges rather than training delivery.
- Disability:IN: US-based global disability inclusion organisation providing employer resources, training and benchmarking. Comparable mission and offering to TAP but US-centric; useful proxy for international expansion or partnership.
Regional players
- Aspiring Futures: UK social enterprise focused on employment outcomes for people with disabilities, including employer engagement and supported hiring. Comparable employer-side disability inclusion focus but with a stronger direct-candidate delivery layer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Ability People social profiles
Digital presenceThe Ability People compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Ability People financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Ability People leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
The Ability People funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Ability People M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Ability People
What does The Ability People do?
The Ability People is a disability-led recruitment and inclusion consultancy that helps UK organisations build authentically inclusive workplaces. Its core offerings span four pillars: inspirational DEI keynote sessions delivered by disabled professionals and former Paralympians, employer brand services covering recruitment and onboarding processes, culture assessment and development programmes, and physical environment accessibility assessments. Services are sold on a custom-engagement basis to enterprise clients.
Is The Ability People a public or private company?
The Ability People is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Ability People founded?
The Ability People was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Ability People based?
The Ability People is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Ability People make money?
One revenue line is on record: consulting and Training Services.
Who are The Ability People's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are myDisabilityjobs, Open Inclusion, The Clear Company, PurpleLight Consulting, Purple (Purple Story), Evenbreak and Business Disability Forum. Emerging players are Valuable 500 and Disability:IN. Aspiring Futures is listed as a regional player.
Does The Ability People have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Ability People.
What industry is The Ability People in?
The Ability People's product category is Disability Inclusion Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAIAI, AT Implementation, Coaching & Professional Development (Teachers/Staff), with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 624310 and its SIC code is 8742.