**Bold Steps Urged to Unleash the Potential of Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK**
A comprehensive review, supported by the government, has urged authorities, financial institutions, and business networks to take decisive action to support disabled entrepreneurs and address entrenched inequalities that constrain their businesses.
Following a detailed two-year inquiry, The Lilac Review—a landmark study into the state of disabled-led businesses—has highlighted numerous financial, operational, and accessibility barriers that continue to impede the growth and prosperity of disabled entrepreneurs across the UK. The report outlines more than 20 targeted recommendations ranging from increased financial assistance to fostering more inclusive business environments and leveraging innovation through technology.
Disabled entrepreneurs currently account for an estimated 25% of the UK’s 5.45 million small businesses, but they contribute only 8.6% of total business turnover. The review calculates that if these systemic obstacles were dismantled, up to £230 billion in additional business revenue could be generated, demonstrating the tremendous untapped potential within this community.
Among its findings, The Lilac Review identifies finance and social support as particularly pressing challenges. More than half (57%) of the 750 disabled business owners surveyed cited financial support as a top priority for the coming year. The barriers cited are multifaceted, including a higher risk of financial disadvantage, the additional costs linked to disability, anxiety over losing vital welfare support, and concerns about future productivity due to health issues. Importantly, these difficulties are compounded by inaccessible investment processes and ambiguous criteria that disproportionately affect disabled applicants.
Past research has further underscored these challenges. A 2023 report from Access2Finance found that disabled entrepreneurs were a staggering 400 times less likely to secure investment compared to their non-disabled counterparts. As businesses attempt to scale up, the gap frequently widens—angel investors, venture capital, and accelerator programmes remain largely out of reach, too often hindered by prejudiced assumptions or unaccommodating application formats.
In response, the Lilac Review’s recommendations include the expansion of the Disability Finance Code, introduced in partnership with leading banks such as Barclays, HSBC UK, Lloyds, and NatWest in late 2024. This code, which aims to break down barriers to finance and support, is already making a positive impact and represents significant progress, according to the review’s authors.
The review also places a strong emphasis on the creation and support of peer-led business networks and mentorship schemes, which those surveyed noted would help to build essential “social capital”—a resource that many disabled business owners find difficult to access. Just over half of respondents highlighted this as an area where meaningful change could be quickly felt.
Another significant area for advancement is technology. The report calls for greater investment in accessible artificial intelligence and assistive tech, and recommends embedding accessibility at the core of future AI policy and product development. Over half of disabled entrepreneurs see emerging technologies, such as AI, as crucial to their businesses’ future, with recent research indicating widespread early adoption.
Leadership for The Lilac Review has come jointly from both policymakers and entrepreneurs, with Minister for Small Business Gareth Thomas co-chairing alongside Victoria Jenkins, founder of adaptive clothing company Unhidden. The Steering Board has also included input from a range of prominent disabled founders, business associations, and industry groups.
Looking forward, the review’s momentum will continue with the establishment of The LILAC Centre for Disabled Entrepreneurship, the UK’s first major business incubator and research centre dedicated solely to the success of disabled entrepreneurs. Hosted by ARU Peterborough and Small Business Britain, the Centre will combine physical and digital resources to spur innovation, leadership, and inclusive growth.
In addition, plans are underway to develop a Disability Trading Framework, which aims to improve inclusive procurement and foster diversity among suppliers, setting benchmarks both for the private sector and for government practices.
Government and industry voices have echoed the urgency of these recommendations. Co-chair Gareth Thomas stated, “A key part of our plan for economic growth is ensuring all entrepreneurs, regardless of background or circumstances, have access to the right support.” Victoria Jenkins added, “Disabled entrepreneurs remain underrepresented, underfunded, and underestimated. The Lilac Review is not just about recognising the challenges—we must now act decisively to address them.”
For further details and to access the full Lilac Review, readers are invited to visit the official website at [lilacreview.com](https://lilacreview.com/final-report).