With disabled people still facing significant barriers to traditional employment, many are choosing to become their own bosses instead.
Across the UK, disabled entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into thriving businesses, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK exist to recognise the outstanding achievements of these founders and give them the support they need to go on to even greater success.
The awards were launched by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and owner of the easy family of brands (www.easy.com and easyHistory.info) and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (stelios.foundation) in partnership with disability charity Leonard Cheshire. The awards are now in their 18th year.
Disabled entrepreneurs running a UK-based company with at least £200,000 in annual revenue are now invited to apply. The top prize is £150,000, with two further awards of £100,000 and £50,000.
Since launching the awards in 2007, a total of £2,150,000 – including this year’s £300,000 prize pot – has been donated to winners by Sir Stelios and his foundation.
Umbreen David (middle) won £150,000 in last year’s Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs to enhance accessibility at her care home
For the first time, applicants are required to submit a short video pitching directly to Sir Stelios. Some of this footage will feature in a short documentary-style pilot about the competition, which will also be shared on social media.
As well as handing out life-changing prizes to entrepreneurs, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is also donating £50,000 to Leonard Cheshire to help with the running of this year’s awards.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria –
1. You are over 18 and a disabled person in the UK.
2. You own at least 50% of the shares of a UK registered for-profit company that has filed accounts with UK Companies House showing a turnover (revenues) in one year of at least £200,000.
3. You must also be a Director of the company.
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Sir Stelios said: ‘People with disabilities often face greater challenges in securing salaried employment, and I have always believed that the best way for a disabled person to get a job is to start their own business and be their own boss!
‘We are committed to recognising and celebrating entrepreneurial excellence, and I hope that by offering significant cash prizes to those who have successfully launched their businesses they will inspire others with disabilities to follow suit and start their own ventures, generating opportunities and wealth for themselves, their families, employees and suppliers.
‘And this year we are introducing a few exciting changes to the format of the awards.
‘Applicants will pitch directly to me via video submission, and I have commissioned a behind-the-scenes documentary film as part of a pilot project which may well one day become a mainstream social media or TV series.’
Be inspired by these former winners
Sir Stelios was delighted to hand last year’s top prize to Umbreen David of Hoama Group Ltd.
Umbreen, who lives with muscular dystrophy and significant hearing loss, took over the management of Iden Manor Nursing Home in Kent and transformed a struggling facility into a vibrant, dignified and compassionate community.
Reflecting her constant focus on improving the lives of her residents, she chose to invest her £150,000 cash grant in improvements to make her home more accessible.
‘I am on a journey of building a care home,’ Umbreen said after winning her prize. ‘I also want to share my knowledge with young people and hopefully inspire them to think: if that crazy woman can do it, maybe I can too.
‘You can be an entrepreneur, you can be a leader, even if you have challenges in life.’
Cedric Bloch, founder of Brigit’s Bakery, was crowned overall winner in 2024
Overcoming adversity is a common thread among previous winners. In 2010, Cedric Bloch founded a business, Brigit’s Bakery, after having the idea of serving afternoon tea on one of London’s iconic Routemaster buses.
While it quickly took off, his hard-won achievements were thrown into doubt in 2021 after a spinal injury caused by a bike crash left him paralysed from the waist down and using a wheelchair.
However, his unwavering determination and unbreakable spirit saw him bounce back from his accident, continue to grow his company and ultimately be crowned overall winner of the 2024 Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs.
Cedric originally heard about the awards from a friend and sent in an application ‘without thinking too much about it’.
Before long, he was at the awards ceremony receiving his cash grant, which he put towards a project to develop the first ever electric-powered 1960s Routemaster.
Asked for his message to other disabled entrepreneurs who were considering entering, he replied: ‘You should. Who knows, you might win and get the chance to meet Sir Stelios. It definitely opens doors!’
The first Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Awards winner, TV presenter and entrepreneur Amar Latif OBE, was the visionary founder of Traveleyes, a unique travel company that offers holidays for visually impaired people.
Victoria Nelson, who bagged the first prize in 2019 for Deaf4Deaf, the UK’s first sign language counselling service
The types of enterprises started by winners have been hugely varied, from a manufacturer of colourful prosthetic leg covers (Mark Williams of limb-art.com) to a provider of premium metal polishing solutions (Joe Waggott of metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk).
Among many other worthy winners is Victoria Nelson, who bagged the first prize in 2019 for Deaf4Deaf, the UK’s first sign language counselling service – which is now part of complex care counselling provider DisabilityPlus.
Several entrepreneurs honoured by Sir Stelios have even gone on to strike licensing agreements with Sir Stelios’ easyGroup.
They include Josh Wintersgill of easyTravelseat, a provider of transfer seats to aircraft passengers with reduced mobility, and Steve Holyer, founder director of easyAccessibility.com – which researches and develops life-changing technology for the visually impaired.
Josh Wintersgill of easyTravelseat speaking at an event with Sir Stelios
Marcus Missen, Executive Director Advocacy, Partnership and Impact at Leonard Cheshire, said: ‘We are proud to have been working with Sir Stelios and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation since 2007.
‘Each year, it is fantastic to see the creativity, drive, and talent of disabled entrepreneurs that these Awards spotlight and celebrate.
‘Disabled entrepreneurs too often face additional barriers to success, which is why opportunities like this, and appropriate support for disabled people, are so important, and make a big difference.’
To see the eligibility criteria and apply visit stelios.foundation/disabled-entrepreneurs-uk/ or leonardcheshire.org/stelios. Email queries can be sent to SteliosAward@leonardcheshire.org.
All completed application forms should be emailed to maya.turnbull@stelios.com no later than 5pm BST on Thursday 30 April 2026. The winners will be announced via a hybrid ceremony online via Zoom and at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, Thurloe Square, London on Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 12 noon UK time.
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, which launched in 2011, is funded by the majority of profits from easyGroup – the company owned by Sir Stelios that created and owns the easy family of brands including easyJet.com, easyHotel.com, easyCar.com, easyBus.com and easyStorage.com.