Sir Stelios supporting disabled entrepreneurs with the first Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
21/12/07 13:45
Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou last teamed
up with the Leonard Cheshire charity to launch the
disabled entrepreneur of the year award.
The scheme is also being promoted by Gareth Almond, Britain's only fully qualified amputee driving instructor and disabled motor sport champion, whose Bulldog Spirit driving school in Lancashire specialises in teaching disabled motorists. He was forced to retire from the police after an accident led to the loss of his right arm.
Another successful entrepreneur supporting the award is Maria Zedda, who is profoundly deaf and runs a disability equality training and consultancy firm, Wideaware.
Stelios presented the first winner with a £50,000 cheque at a ceremony in November. He says: 'I am very passionate about encouraging an enterprising spirit throughout British culture. Helping remove the barriers disabled people face to being in business is an important part of this. That is why I am keen to establish this new award, which will give disabled people an opportunity to show the world what they are able to do rather than have them negatively judged by their disability.'
Amar Latif of Traveleyes, a tour operator for the visually impaired,received The Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year Award in November last year.
Latif established the business in 2005 with the aim of helping blind people experience world travel. Sighted travellers join the visually impaired on trips to destinations including Cuba, Canada, Italy and Spain, acting as their 'eyes' by describing their surroundings.
Latif, a Scotsman now based in Leeds, has only five percent of his sight remaining. He said: “It's a great honour to have won this fantastic award and to have had Traveleyes recognised in this way.
“The £50,000 will be used to expand Traveleyes into a fully international service. This will enable us to serve our blind and sighted travellers around the world.
"I set up Traveleyes as from an early age I always suspected there was a stunningly beautiful world waiting to be explored. Traveleyes holidays offer greater social, sensory and cultural variety and enhanced personal fulfilment. For the visually impaired traveller, Traveleyes provides a new sense of independence. For the sighted traveller it's a holiday that provides an enhanced sense of purpose.”
Activites offered by Traveleyes include sky diving, hiking, kayaking, and cookery courses. Latif is working on a 'walking with lions' trip for 2008. Click below to see Stelios talking about disability and entrepreneurship.
The scheme is also being promoted by Gareth Almond, Britain's only fully qualified amputee driving instructor and disabled motor sport champion, whose Bulldog Spirit driving school in Lancashire specialises in teaching disabled motorists. He was forced to retire from the police after an accident led to the loss of his right arm.
Another successful entrepreneur supporting the award is Maria Zedda, who is profoundly deaf and runs a disability equality training and consultancy firm, Wideaware.
Stelios presented the first winner with a £50,000 cheque at a ceremony in November. He says: 'I am very passionate about encouraging an enterprising spirit throughout British culture. Helping remove the barriers disabled people face to being in business is an important part of this. That is why I am keen to establish this new award, which will give disabled people an opportunity to show the world what they are able to do rather than have them negatively judged by their disability.'
Amar Latif of Traveleyes, a tour operator for the visually impaired,received The Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year Award in November last year.
Latif established the business in 2005 with the aim of helping blind people experience world travel. Sighted travellers join the visually impaired on trips to destinations including Cuba, Canada, Italy and Spain, acting as their 'eyes' by describing their surroundings.
Latif, a Scotsman now based in Leeds, has only five percent of his sight remaining. He said: “It's a great honour to have won this fantastic award and to have had Traveleyes recognised in this way.
“The £50,000 will be used to expand Traveleyes into a fully international service. This will enable us to serve our blind and sighted travellers around the world.
"I set up Traveleyes as from an early age I always suspected there was a stunningly beautiful world waiting to be explored. Traveleyes holidays offer greater social, sensory and cultural variety and enhanced personal fulfilment. For the visually impaired traveller, Traveleyes provides a new sense of independence. For the sighted traveller it's a holiday that provides an enhanced sense of purpose.”
Activites offered by Traveleyes include sky diving, hiking, kayaking, and cookery courses. Latif is working on a 'walking with lions' trip for 2008. Click below to see Stelios talking about disability and entrepreneurship.