A new business support package to help disabled entrepreneurs grow their businesses was launched this week at the British Library.
Enabled4Growth (E4G) will help businesses led by disabled people by providing a package of measures to help grow and sustain their business.
One of the fundamental aims of the programme will be to help the businesses become investment ready and aid them in accessing the finance required to grow.
The three year initiative has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is being run by Leonard Cheshire Disability, an organisation which supports disabled entrepreneurs.
Amar Latif, who has a visual impairment runs Traveleyes, a travel business for visually impaired and sighted travellers. In 2007 he won the Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, run by Leonard Cheshire.
Latif said: “Access to finance is vital for any business to grow, and as an entrepreneur I know only too well how difficult this can be. It was a real hurdle to get people to take me seriously.
“I was this blind guy who runs a travel business asking for a loan to expand. It is very tough to secure potential investment and from listening to fellow entrepreneurs I hear the same story time and time again.”
Jane Fletcher, director of innovative projects at Leonard Cheshire, said while many disabled business owners want to expand their businesses, they often find it difficult to change people’s perceptions of who they are and what they can do.
“Ensuring all the basics are in place and getting the right funding proposal together is the key to growth and attracting further investment,” she said. “Enabled4Growth’s free access to finance support is one way to help your business make that step.”
For more information on the initiative visit www.enabled4growth.com
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2010