Accessible entrepreneurship charity Hatch Enterprise has partnered with the Ares Charitable Foundation to support Disabled people across the UK launch their own businesses.
Fifteen budding entrepreneurs from across the UK will benefit from a free online Launchpad programme this October, which is specially tailored to support Disabled participants to develop their business knowledge, connect with professional networks, and access funding opportunities.
A recent report from Hatch found that Disabled people nationally have lower confidence in their ability to start a business, and according to the Federation of Small Businesses 52% of business owners report experiencing a barrier due to their disability or health condition.
The ableism embedded in society can cause Disabled entrepreneurs to come up against discrimination and underestimation, often leading to lack of confidence and in turn lack of representation and visibility across the sector.
Hatch wants to level the playing field and provide opportunities for Disabled people to access the power of entrepreneurship to transform their lives and the communities around them. Running your own business means that you can manage your own timetable, choose who you work with, and build a business culture that is accessible and welcoming to all.
The Launchpad programme consists of three months of online workshops and expert-led sessions that will take place on Thursday evenings. It will then end with an opportunity for participants to showcase their business to a panel of experts and get actionable feedback on how to take it to the next level. All graduates will also have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £1,000 to invest in their business.
This new programme is suitable for anyone who identifies as Disabled with an idea for a business they are looking to launch. No prior business knowledge or experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and engage with a cohort of like-minded peers.
Katie Cory, who is neurodivergent and has chronic illnesses, was able to launch her positivity-led stationery business Peb and Reg earlier this year thanks to the support and funding she received from Hatch.
She said: “I feel like a completely different person since finishing the course. The team at Hatch have honestly been absolutely incredible, and I can't thank them enough! I now have much more confidence in myself and my business.
“I wholeheartedly recommend the Launchpad programme to anyone with a business dream. The team and mentors are incredibly supportive, and I've found a wonderful community of like-minded small business owners who cheer me on and who I now consider friends!
“The Hatch team could not have been more accommodating to my needs and given how much I can struggle in life, it was amazing to be accepted and supported for exactly who I am."
Mellissa Morgan, Head of Cohort Programmes at Hatch, said: “At Hatch we have spent a decade advocating for underrepresented entrepreneurs, and are intimately familiar with the challenges and barriers faced by those typically excluded from launching and growing a business.
“We’re so excited to be partnering with the Ares Foundation to deliver this brand new tailored and accessible programme, which will help to overcome some of these challenges and enable Disabled and neurodivergent founders and their businesses to thrive.”
Applications are now open and the final deadline to apply is 26 August. The Hatch team is able to offer support with applications and discuss any accommodations that would make this process easier.