Stelios helps disabled entrepreneurs

The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs is an annual competition run by Leonard Cheshire Disability and sponsored by Sir Stelios to “reward those with disabilities who have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit in the face of significant barriers”. Applicants must have a registered UK business with a turnover of at least £10,000 a year.

The first prize is a personal cheque for £50,000, which will be presented by Sir Stelios at our very own Growing Business Awards, taking place at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square on Thursday, 26 November.  Andrew Thomson from Grangemouth in Scotland scooped last year’s prize. Thomson runs Sign-now.com, a web-based video conferencing translation service, which allows deaf people to communicate with the hearing public. The prize money helped him to grow his business, hire a marketing consultant and develop new products to expand his customer base. “Disabled people experience disadvantage and discrimination in business every day, largely through ignorance,” he comments. “This needs to change.” “With 50 per cent of disabled adults in the UK out of work, removing barriers that disabled people face in business is essential,” says Sir Selios. “Self-employment is often the only viable option for many disabled people as it offers flexibility and helps bypass much of the prejudice that sadly still exists.” The 11th annual Growing Business Awards recognises the very best among Britain’s small and medium-sized businesses. To be among them this year, get your entries in now. In the words of John Caudwell, winner of a previous Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur award, this is "one of the best business awards events of the year."

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