£60,000 cash prizes given to disabled entrepreneurs at Stelios Awards 2022!

A maker of metal polishing products, a Christmas tree grower and the creator of an innovative skill-matching jobs board are among the winners of this year’s Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs.

The prestigious awards, first launched in 2007, are jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire. This year they attracted entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors including technology, recruitment, sports and rehabilitation, wellbeing, fashion and adaptive clothing.

The Awards offer one of the largest financial prizes for disabled entrepreneurs in the UK. A top prize of £30,000, as well as two finalist prizes of £20,000 and £10,000, meant there was £60,000 in cash up for grabs for 2022.

Following a shortlist of five top candidates, this year’s winners are:

• First prize (£30,000): Joe Waggott www.metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk
• Second prize (£20,000): Clive Collins www.catsfieldchristmastreefarm.com
• Third prize (£10,000): Joseph Williams www.getaclu.io

Sir Stelios said: I am delighted that we have found again three very worthy winners who have proven that the best way for a disabled person to earn a good living is to start their own business!  Congratulations to all three winners and the 48 other applicants who should be encouraged to try again next year Since the Awards started in 2006 Sir Stelios and his foundation have donated a grand total of £1,196,000, including this year’s sum, as prize money through the Awards, giving disabled entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their talents.
There were 52 applicants for this year’s Awards, which relaunched with new criteria following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic.

Leonard Cheshire Chief Executive Ruth Owen said: “There were really strong entries this year, with a huge amount of talent out there. It’s brilliant to see such fantastic businesses from disabled entrepreneurs, showing what we’ve known for a long time – disabled people can be really successful entrepreneurs and can offer so much in the workplace. Congratulations to all the winners and to all the candidates.”

DISABLED ENTREPRENEURS UK

Stelios Awards For Disabled Entrepreneurs

Run in partnership with Leonard Cheshire

Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs inviting applications for 2022 with £60,000 worth of prizes to be won.

Leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands including easyJet (see www.easyHistory.info) and founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, are proud
to relaunch The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs for 2022.

The Awards offer one of the largest financial prizes for disabled entrepreneurs in the UK. A top prize of £30,000, and two finalist prizes of £20,000 and £10,000 are up for grabs for this year’s winners, offering £60,000 in cash in total for 2022.

Since the awards started in 2007 a grand total of £1,196,000 including this year’s sum, has been donated by Sir Stelios and his foundation to disabled entrepreneurs and Leonard Cheshire, giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Full media release click here.

Application form click here.

For media enquiries please contact Selina Mills, Stelios Team Selina.Mills@leonardcheshire.org or by phone on 07765 38 37 58
or Richard Shackleton, Communications Director for Sir Stelios, by email on richard.shackleton@easy.com or phone on 07905 779 799.

Alternative application formats are available on request or if you have any questions please contact SteliosAward@leonardcheshire.org.

All completed application forms should be emailed to tracy.ghori@stelios.com not later than 20/4/22.


View more UK Award News

Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK

Apply for the UK Awards

About the UK Awards

The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK is a business award run in partnership with the Leonard Cheshire, A registered charity dedicated to supporting individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose, whatever their level of ability.
The award recognises the exceptional spirit and business ability of disabled entrepreneurs.

I am very passionate about encouraging an enterprising spirit throughout British culture. Helping to remove the barriers that disabled people face in business is an important part of this.
– Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

The Stelios UK Award Prizes

This year, we are giving out the biggest ever pot of prize money for our winners, totalling £100,000! Alongside a top prize of £30,000, and four prizes of £10,000, four awards of £5,000 are also up for grabs. For the first time, we’re also offering a special Judge’s Prize of up to £10,000 for businesses that don’t quite meet the awards’ criteria but show great promise – such as entries made on behalf of disabled people for legal reasons.

Who can apply?

Anyone based in the UK. We have applications from all arenas: from accessible wheelchair suitcases to pottery, mental health apps and adapted ice cream vans. Past winners have been drawn from the travel agency, building and IT sectors as well as businesses specialising in disability/mobility aids and sports.

Criteria for Entries

  • The award is open to disabled applicants* over the age of 18
  • Operating in the UK only
  • The award is open to registered and not-yet registered companies, charities and social enterprises
  • A disabled entrepreneur must own at least 50% of the company
  • The company must be at most seven years old
  • The applicant must have, or plans to have, an active online presence
  • Past winners and/or applicants are welcome to re-apply. Many winners have applied before

* We use the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability, which means this prize is for all disabled entrepreneurs / people with a long term health condition. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please feel free to email steliosaward@leonardcheshire.org for further information.