DISABLED ENTREPRENEURS UK

Stelios Awards For Disabled Entrepreneurs

Run in partnership with Leonard Cheshire

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are suspending this year’s Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK. These awards are usually organised every year in co-operation with Leonard Cheshire with total prizes up to £100,000.  We hope you are all keeping well during these times and look forward to seeing you all in 2021. 

Given the hard times we are facing , more than 4,750 Leonard Cheshire frontline carers providing vital support to disabled people this Easter will receive a thank you gift from us , totalling £150,000. For more information on this donation please see : https://stelios-uk.foundation/news/our-thank-you-gift-of-150000-to-more-than-4750-leonard-chesire-frontline-carers-for-covid-19/

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.