“It was really special” say Graduates of First UK Programme for Disabled Entrepreneurs
October last year saw charity Hatch Enterprise launch a programme supporting Disabled and neurodivergent people to start their own businesses, the first of its kind in the UK. Graduates of this inaugural programme have shared their experiences to help build a picture of what Disabled entrepreneurs want to see implemented nationally, and how the Hatch programme has impacted their entrepreneurial journey.
The ambition and ability of Disabled entrepreneurs has never been in question, but this programme revealed a gaping oversight in the business support landscape, with Disabled people too often left behind or not considered.
The Programme
There is no 'one size fits all' to entrepreneurship. From jewellery and luxury headwear brands to inclusion training and accessible engineering businesses, this programme welcomed twenty Disabled entrepreneurs from different locations, with different experiences, working in different sectors, with different goals.
The shared experience between them was their drive to build something new, and the barriers they had come up against in an inaccessible entrepreneurial landscape. This programme of support had built in adaptations to make it as accessible as possible for Disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, from representative facilitators and experts to flexibility around attendance and participation.
Last year Hatch published its learnings around building an accessible recruitment procedure. Now that the programme is complete, Hatch has shared their key takeaways on how to best serve Disabled entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their enterprises.
1. Shared Experiences are Key
The importance of shared experiences cannot be overstated. Having commonality among the experiences of not only the cohort but also the facilitators and experts on this programme resulted in a host of benefits for attendees. As well as the practicalities of similar challenges, experiences, and coping mechanisms that could be shared, another key outcome was psychological safety. Free from the burden of having to always explain barriers and experiences, or request access consideration, the cohort was able to focus directly on building and scaling their businesses.
One of the programme graduates is Gwendoline Thornton, the founder of The.Workshop, and offshoot startup Spoonful, a business that aims to support neurodivergent people with cooking through an accessibility app that uses AI to convert regular recipes into sensory-aware instructions, personalised interfaces and smart meal planning to prevent executive burnout.
She said, "Hatch has been a really supportive experience, I’d highly recommend it to anyone in the neurodivergent or Disabled community, it was so highly tailored to our experiences.
“It was really special, I hadn’t seen anything before that was actually tailored around neurodivergent people. Being in a room full of other people with the same experiences, who understand each other and can help, it’s an environment that’s so conducive to success.”
2. Representation and Visibility
Disabled people lead 25% of UK businesses, but are frequently missing from media depictions, social campaigns, and sector acknowledgments. This can feed into a narrative that excludes and dissuades Disabled people from seeking out entrepreneurship, as well as preventing existing entrepreneurs from speaking about their disability. Entrepreneurs from this cohort said that they want to use their stories to inspire others, championing business-ownership as a viable route for their community. For those just starting out in entrepreneurship, role models further along in their careers can be a huge inspiration, and the more we can encourage this representation and visibility, the better.
Moses Basi is the founder of St Clement Ltd, a luxury accessories label specialising in headwear that combines artistry and functionality.
He said, “Unfortunately, Disabled entrepreneurs don't have a very loud voice in this country. It's not often you hear their stories. To hear firsthand experiences was very eye opening for me.
"One reason I want to enter the fashion industry is that there aren't many people with learning disabilities and from lower-income backgrounds in creative roles like me. I want to prove to myself and others like me that it is possible.”
3. Intersectional Considerations
Communities do not exist in silo, and it is important to consider people's intersectional experiences. Women, ethnic minority founders, and queer founders all bring their own unique experiences which may play into or exacerbate barriers within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recognising and adapting models of support to people's full experiences is crucial in building a fairer system, and a big part of this is not pigeon-holing people into rigid, separate identities. Programmes catering to underrepresented identities have a responsibility to create psychologically safe environments that consider diverse experiences.
Evan is the founder of Warstone Prosthetics, selling gender-affirming packers and prosthetics for transgender men and transmasculine people within the UK. The mission of Warstone Prosthetics is to reduce gender dysphoria and make the wearer feel more confident in themselves.
He said, “The programme and other founders have inspired me to use my personal story to help the trans community. I felt confident knowing it was a supportive space. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone has shown me I’m more capable than I gave myself credit for.”
Looking to the Future
This programme has demonstrated the value of having dedicated support available to Disabled entrepreneurs.
Jess Rad was a facilitator on the programme and said,
“It was a true honour to be part of this first cohort and play a small role in guiding and mentoring such an extraordinary group. Every single member inspired me deeply and reinforced my belief that neurodivergent and Disabled individuals are made for entrepreneurship.
“Neither experiences are easy, but the deep tenacity and resilience required to navigate life when you have additional support needs, translates perfectly to what's required to build a business.”
Hatch is following on from the success of the programme by offering two parallel programmes for Disabled entrepreneurs this spring – one funded by NatWest and the other by the Ares Charitable Foundation. Both programmes will run on the same dates, taking place online and consisting of six expert-led sessions, six workshops and a pitch day.
The programmes are open for applications, and you can find out more here. https://hatchenterprise.org/our-programmes/launchpad-may-25/