£50,000 prize competition to find the disabled entrepreneur of the year!

From 7 June, disabled entrepreneurs across the UK can enter to win the £50,000 Stelios Award for  Disabled Entrepreneur in the UK by submitting the application form and complying with the Award criteria.

This major award is run by Leonard Cheshire Disability and sponsored by easyGroup Chairman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou – through the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation; it was presented in 2009 to John Pickup of Amputees in Action, a business that specializes in supplying amputee extras and stuntmen for film, television and military casualty training.

The 2010 winner will receive a cheque at the Growing Business Awards organized in London by Caspian Publishing and the CBI, taking place Thursday, November 25, 2010.

Stelios said: “I am passionate about encouraging an enterprising spirit and recognizing the incredible commitment and willingness to take risk on the part of entrepreneurs with disabilities. That is why I decided to work with Leonard Cheshire Disability to establish and run the Award since 2007.

“We received a terrific response last year from disabled entrepreneurs all over the UK and, as one of the judges, I was amazed by the high standard of entries.

“Arriving at a shortlist proved a difficult task just because there are so many talented entrepreneurs out there.

“With 50 per cent of disabled adults out of work, removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential. Self-employment is the only viable option for many disabled people as it offers flexibility and helps bypass much of the prejudice that sadly still exists.”

John Pickup said: “It was hard to find words to describe my emotions when the announcer said I had won last year.

“£50,000 has meant I’ve been able to invest in my business and, with a lot of hard work, I’m watching it grow. Winning the award and the support I have received from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire Disability has given Amputees in Action kudos and more importantly confidence to succeed.”

“Disabled people experience disadvantage and discrimination in business and enterprise every day, largely through ignorance – this needs to change.”

To find out how to enter, visit www.disabledentrepreneur.org. The closing date for entries is Friday 3 September, 2010.