Leading ‘Accessible IT’ expert recognised in New Year Honours list

Graeme Whippy one of the UK’s leading IT experts on accessible technology in the workplace has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.  With an impressive and broad-ranging career in IT, Graeme has worked for Lloyd’s Banking Group since 2001 and worked tirelessly to establish the IT Accessibility Centre of Excellence in 2005.

Graeme’s drive and determination to ensure that disabled colleagues had the right IT equipment in place put Lloyds Banking Group at the vanguard of workplace accessibility in the UK.

More recently, Graeme’s work on the Group Disability Programme at Lloyds included the set up of an innovative reasonable adjustment process for colleagues. Over 25,000 disabled employees have been supported by the workplace adjustment processes Graeme introduced.

For the last 4 years Graeme has also been the bank’s representative on the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge, which looks at how daily life can be improved for people with dementia.

Nigel Lewis, CEO of AbilityNet said:

“Everyone at AbilityNet is absolutely thrilled that Graeme Whippy has received an MBE for his services to disability and people with dementia. Our warmest congratulations to Graeme on his well-deserved honour.

“I have known and worked alongside Graeme for many years, he is a highly respected and trusted colleague and a fellow advocate for improving the lives of disabled people through IT.

“As 2016 gets underway, I am greatly encouraged by what Graeme’s award signifies. There is a growing realisation of how important it is to support disabled people into work and that accessible technology in the workplace is something that can enhance productivity and well-being.“