Entries are being accepted for this year’s prestigious Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs.
Run by leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, the awards offer a top prize of £100,000 and two finalist prizes of £60,000 and £40,000.
The awards, launched 16 years ago by the founder of easyJet and the easy family of brands, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, recognise the exceptional achievements of disabled entrepreneurs who have set up their own company in the UK and excel in their chosen business field.
Since the awards started a grand total of £1,500,000 (including this year’s sum) has been donated by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation to disabled entrepreneurs.
“We know that people with a disability find it more difficult to get a job,” said Sir Stelios.(pictured above).
“I have long held the view that the best way for a disabled person to get a job is to start their own business and be their own boss!
“As we are in the business of rewarding entrepreneurial excellence, I sincerely hope that offering these substantial cash prizes for those who have started up their own business and are doing well, will mean they will become role models for other disabled people to start their own business and also create jobs and wealth for themselves, their families, their staff and suppliers.”
Previous winners include Amar Latif, founder of www.Traveleyes-international and broadcaster on BBC and CH4, Josh Wintersgill of www.easyTravelseat, Steve Holyer of www.Accessibility.com, Mark Williams of www.limb-art.com, Victoria Nelson founder www.deaf4deaf.com, Joe Waggott of www.metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk and last year’s winner Cristian Brownlee (pictured above) of www.myadaptability.co.uk.
“We are really pleased to be working with Sir Stelios again on these important awards,” said Ruth Owen Chief Executive of Leonard Cheshire.
“Every year it is fantastic to see the wide array of entries and these awards provide a great opportunity for disabled entrepreneurs to network, build on and promote their businesses.
“There’s so much untapped disabled talent out there and I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.”
Entrepreneurs are eligible to apply if they are registered disabled in the UK and they own at least 50% 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 £10,000.
Applications close at 5pm on Tuesday June 11 2024.
For full details on eligibility: https://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-support/working/stelios-awards-disabled-entrepreneurs
Application form: www.stelios.foundation
Any questions please email: SteliosAward@leonardcheshire.org
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