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Campaign #BusinessWithoutBarriers

Business Without Barriers

Entrepreneurs face many hurdles - disability shouldn't be one of them. Discover stories from successful business owners who are disabled people, guidance from leading experts and organisations, and our recommendations for Government

Our Business Without Barriers hub features inspiring interviews with successful disabled entrepreneurs and personal accounts from employers who are helping to break down barriers to employment. Together with experts and leading organisations, we’re also helping you to make your workplace more inclusive and accessible with free advice, guidance and resources. 

Key findings from our FSB member survey 

<center>[Image text] 23% of disabled people or those with a health condition have experienced discrimination or negative treatment</center>

[Image text] 23% of disabled people or those with a health condition have experienced discrimination or negative treatment

<center>[Image text] 34% of business owners report a decline in their mental health during the pandemic</center>

[Image text] 34% of business owners report a decline in their mental health during the pandemic

<center>[Image text] 25% of small business owners are disabled or have a health condition</center>

[Image text] 25% of small business owners are disabled or have a health condition

<center>[Image text] 51% of small employers have employed a disabled person or someone with a health condition in the last 3 years</center>

[Image text] 51% of small employers have employed a disabled person or someone with a health condition in the last 3 years

<center>[Image text] 52% have experienced a barrier due to their being disabled or having a health condition, such as being unable to commit to consistent hours, meet short deadlines, apply for financial support or get access to equipment</center>

[Image text] 52% have experienced a barrier due to their being disabled or having a health condition, such as being unable to commit to consistent hours, meet short deadlines, apply for financial support or get access to equipment

<center>[Image text] 54% of small business employers believe the government should cover SSP costs or should implement a full rebate for small businesses</center>

[Image text] 54% of small business employers believe the government should cover SSP costs or should implement a full rebate for small businesses

<center>[Image text] The cost of sickness absence last year for small business employers was £5bn</center>

[Image text] The cost of sickness absence last year for small business employers was £5bn

<center>[Image text] 91% of small employers offer flexible working, rising to 97% of those who employ a disabled person or someone with a health condition</center>

[Image text] 91% of small employers offer flexible working, rising to 97% of those who employ a disabled person or someone with a health condition

A smiling man speaks to a colleague using sign language

Read FSB’s report

From disabled enterprise to managing sickness absence, our latest report explores the issues impacting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. Based on a survey of FSB members and interviews with business owners across the UK, discover our key findings and recommendations to Government.

read now

Join our interactive events

Register now for our free events designed to help you find support as a disabled entrepreneur, make your business more inclusive and support your staff

Thu, 9 June 2022

Disabled Entrepreneurs – Support and Advice on starting and growing your business

An interactive session offering advice, support and guidance for people who are starting or growing a business with a disability.

Online/Virtual, South East
Thu, 23 June 2022

Make your business more accessible

An interactive session helping owners and managers understand how they can make their businesses more accessible to disabled people.

Online/Virtual, South East
Fri, 17 June 2022

Make Your Business an Inclusive Workplace

Interactive session offering advice, support and guidance for people who want to improve employment opportunities and experiences for disabled people.

Online/Virtual, South East

Running your own business as a disabled entrepreneur

Disabled entrepreneurs are an essential part of the UK economy. While some choose self-employment because of a lack of appropriate employment prospects, there are many disabled entrepreneurs who have chosen self-employment to fill a gap in the market, to disrupt a sector, or simply to have control over their own time. Supporting disabled people to establish their own business is a key part of closing the disability employment gap.

FSB Member Story | Mark Esho MBE, Easy Internet Services and Easy Internet Solutions

Mark Esho MBE, Easy Internet Services and Easy Internet Solutions

After developing post-polio syndrome, Mark Esho MBE wanted to work flexibly and decided to turn his hobby into a successful business. Mark shares his journey and how he's supporting disabled people who want to start their own business.

Julian John, Delsion

Julian John, Delsion

Julian John is the managing director of Delsion, an inclusion-led people and development consultancy based in Wales. He shares his experience as a disabled entrepreneur and how he’s helping others to overcome barriers.

Hardeep Rai, Kaleidoscope Investments

Hardeep Rai, Kaleidoscope Investments

When Hardeep Rai’s son was born with a severe disability, Hardeep was inspired to use his experience to support disabled entrepreneurs to build ideas that are investable.

Elizabeth Wilkinson, The Dyslexic Dyslexia Consultant

Elizabeth Wilkinson, The Dyslexic Dyslexia Consultant

With over 20 years’ experience of working with employers to educate and raise awareness about dyslexia, Elizabeth Wilkinson, owner of The Dyslexic Dyslexia Consultant, shares her journey.

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Access to Work

Access to Work is a discretionary grant scheme that provides personalised support to disabled people who are in employment or self-employment, including mental health advice and practical help.

Starting a business

Starting a business

From finance to marketing, get started with free advice and guidance from FSB to help you start and run your own business.

Are you an inclusive employer?

Smaller businesses have a critical role to play in delivering on the Government’s pledge to get one million more disabled people into employment by 2027. Hear from business owners who have experience with making reasonable adjustments and find advice from employment experts.

Fiona Campbell, Crazy Capers

Fiona Campbell, Crazy Capers

Fiona Campbell is the Managing Director of Crazy Capers Ltd, a childcare provider based in Scotland. After facing difficulties finding employment due to her own disability, Fiona shares her experience as a Disability Confident employer .

FAQ: Employing disabled workers and people with health conditions

FAQ: Employing disabled workers and people with health conditions

Hannah Thomas, employment solicitor at FSB Employment Protection, answers your frequently asked questions about employing staff who are disabled people and what you need to do as an employer.

Small business employment of disabled people

Small business employment of disabled people

Becca Gooch, Policy Advisor at the Federation of Small Businesses, breaks down new research from the Business Without Barriers report into disability employment and explains FSB’s recommendations for Government.

Join the Disability Confident scheme

Discover how your business can get involved with the Disability Confident scheme, designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.

Find out more

Making your business accessible

Take steps to make your business more inclusive for customers and employees who are disabled people, whether you’re in a retail premises, working on the move, or doing business online.

Seven best practices for website accessibility

Seven best practices for website accessibility

Learn about why it’s important for your website to be accessible to all, including the guidelines in place to promote inclusivity online and the steps you can take as a small business.

What is a reasonable adjustment? 

What is a reasonable adjustment? 

Adam Grimwood, solicitor at FSB Legal Hub, explains what you need to know about the legal duty of reasonable adjustments, and shares how you can make your business premises more accessible for your customers.  

Download a free accessibility audit template

Download a free accessibility audit template

We’re proud to be working with Leonard Cheshire who have kindly provided a free accessibility audit, which you can download to review how accessible your small business is.

Further support and advice

Whether you’re looking to start your own business or make your workplace more inclusive, we’ve curated a list of organisations across the UK offering support, information on grants, resources, training and more.

Looking to grow your business with funding? Search for regional grant funding in England through your local growth hub, find UK-wide business finance opportunities on the government website, and discover FSB Funding Platform’s top tips for funding your business growth

Leonard Cheshire: Providing guidance and support for both job seekers and employers to create creating a more inclusive workplace. Leonard Cheshire are also offering free Inclusion training to SMEs in the West of England Combined Authority area, find out more about the IDEA scheme here.

ACAS: Advice on supporting and treating disabled people fairly at work. For employers, managers and disabled employees, workers and job applicants.

Business Disability Forum: Free training webinars for SMEs in London on why disability matters to your business, and how to get started on your disability smart journey.

RNIB: Resources and guidqance to help support your blind and partially sighted employees and customers.

RNID: Free downloadable guide containing free information and tips to help you support employees who are deaf or have hearing loss.

National Autistic Society: Advice on employing and supporting Autistic employees.

British Dyslexia Association: Advice on reasonable adjustments to support dyslexic employees.

Fair Start Scotland: A free service working closely with employers to identify recruitment needs, tailoring pre-employment and in-work support that meets the needs of both employers and participants.

Parental Employability Support Fund (PESF): providing dedicated support for parents with disabilities who face barriers to progressing their careers.

Enable Works: Supporting employers to overcome issues by helping teams design accessible ways of working and training staff in inclusive practices.

Scottish Disability Directory: A comprehensive directory of organisation across Scotland offering guidance and support across a wide range of subjects and local areas.

Access to Work: Practical advice and support to help individuals and businesses with the cost of adaptations.

Workable NI: Supporting employers and individuals in Northern Ireland to adapt their business and develop their employees.

Every Customer Counts: Resources and guidance from the Equality commission for Northern Ireland to help businesses promote accessible services for all.

NOW: Belfast based social enterprise offering recruitment and supported employment, social impact measurement and disability awareness customer service training.

A More Equal Wales: A downloadable practical advice on how to attract, recruit, develop and retain disabled employees and what support is available to help businesses achieve this.

Business Wales Skills Gateway: Resources and support to help small businesses improve employment opportunities and make their premises accessible for disables people.

Disabled People’s Employment Champions: Business Wales Disabled People’s Employment Advisors provide free advice, information, and support to employers across Wales.

Join FSB today

Ready to get started? Join online now or chat to one of our Membership Advisors before taking the leap.

Join online

Join online, anytime. Joining online takes just a few minutes and gives you instant access to FSB benefits.

Book a meeting

Arrange to meet your local membership advisor virtually or face-to-face, or simply give them a call to chat about joining FSB.

Speak to an Advisor

Speak to one of our team to learn more about how membership could help you and your business.

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