Talented and disabled (From York Press)

Talented and disabled

8:40am Monday 24th September 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I AM calling for talented disabled business people to apply for this year’s Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK, run in partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability.

The award recognises the achievements of disabled entrepreneurs and offers the largest cash prize of its kind – £50,000 – for future business development.

This year’s winner will be presented with a cheque at a special ceremony in London on 3 December.

We want to hear from talented disabled people who are able to show they have got what it takes to run a successful business and meet a real need in the market.

The previous winners of this award offer proof that there are many highly talented disabled entrepreneurs out there.

But with about 50 per cent of disabled adults out of work, it is clear that there still is a long way to go.

Removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential, and I hope that this award will highlight their achievements and create new opportunities.

People have until 5pm on Friday, October 26 to apply for the award – just visit lcdisability.org/stelios

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, C/o Leonard Cheshire Disability, South Lambeth Road, London.