The winner of the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs has been announced as part of the 2008 Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
The award, run by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, was won by Andrew Thomson, director of Sign-now.com. The website enables video conferencing and provides a translation service which allows deaf people to communicate with the hearing public.
Thomson, who has been profoundly deaf since birth and uses British sign language as his main means of communication, was awarded £50,000 in recognition of his business’ innovation and potential. He said:
“There are only 25 full time BSL interpreters in Scotland for 7,000 sign language users, this places a huge demand for skilled communicators. With an online facility like Sign-now.com it gives those with hearing impairments the opportunity to access an interpreter quickly and easily.”
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannau of easyGroup presented the prize to Thomson. He said:
“With around 50% of disabled adults out of work, removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential. Self-employment is a more viable option for many disabled people as it offers flexibility and helps bypass much of the prejudice that sadly still exists among employers.”
Thomson plans to use the £50,000 to expand Sign-now.com and broaden the reach of its existing services.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008
