Three inspirational disabled entrepreneurs have been awarded a combined £300,000 by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in the 17th annual Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs, celebrating innovation, resilience and impact across the UK business community.
The top prize of £150,000 went to Umbreen David, founder of Hoama Group Ltd and owner of Iden Manor Nursing Home in Kent. Her vision to redefine compassionate care, informed by her own lived experience with muscular dystrophy and hearing loss, has transformed the home into a model of inclusive and dignified elderly care. She plans to invest in accessibility upgrades, leadership development, and a mentorship platform for disabled entrepreneurs in the care sector.
Taking second place and £100,000 was Michelle Phillips, the powerhouse behind Edinburgh’s much-loved Mimi’s Bakehouse. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after founding the business, Michelle has grown Mimi’s into a national bakery brand with five shops, two concessions and a flourishing online delivery service. Her prize will support relaunching the website, expanding the product range, and opening up export opportunities.
Paul Woods, founder of Proactive Despatch, claimed the £50,000 third prize. Living with cerebral palsy, Paul turned years of being underestimated into fuel for launching a courier business that now sets the standard for reliable, values-led service in the Northwest. He will use the prize to build his sales team and expand the company’s reach.
This year’s awards, held at the Stelios Foundation headquarters in South Kensington, marked a record-breaking 125 applicants—the highest in the initiative’s 17-year history. Since its inception in 2007, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, in partnership with disability charity Leonard Cheshire, has awarded over £1.7 million to disabled entrepreneurs in the UK.
Sir Stelios said: “We know how difficult it can be for disabled people to get a job. That is why I always believed their best option is to become their own boss. This year’s winners are blazing the trail for others—building businesses that create jobs, deliver value, and prove that disability is no barrier to success.”
The awards are more than a cash grant—they are a vote of confidence in individuals overcoming social and systemic barriers to lead thriving enterprises. With support from Leonard Cheshire and private philanthropy, they continue to shine a light on a new generation of leaders changing what’s possible in British business.
Photo: Nick Edwards
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‘Blazing the trail for others’: easyJet founder Sir Stelios awards £300,000 to disabled entrepreneurs transforming care, baking and logistics
