Need help reading this page? Click to activate Recite Me popup.

 

 

Levelling the playing field for disabled entrepreneurs

The UK economy could be boosted by up to £230 billion if we remove the barriers faced by Disabled entrepreneurs and business owners.

Elyn Corfield
CEO, Business & Commercial Banking
Last updated: 27 May 2025
5 min read

Disabled entrepreneurs are a vital part of the UK’s business landscape. Yet, they remain under-served by financial institutions and support systems. The resilience, creativity, and adaptability required to navigate life with a disability often translate into entrepreneurial excellence. Investing in Disabled entrepreneurs isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s smart business.

What barriers are disabled entrepreneurs facing?

Despite making up 25% of small business owners, Disabled and Neurodivergent entrepreneurs account for just 8.6% of small business turnover. 

Disabled entrepreneurs face a unique set of challenges:

  • Higher start-up costs: Many incur additional expenses related to assistive technology, accessible transport, or personal support.
  • Limited access to finance: Traditional funding routes often require rigid documentation or credit histories that don’t reflect the lived realities of some Disabled individuals.
  • Discrimination and bias: A significant 37% report experiencing discrimination due to their disability.
  • Lack of tailored support: 60% received no support when starting their business, and 48% didn’t know what funding options were available.

These barriers are compounded by a lack of visibility and representation in mainstream business networks and media.

 

A blueprint for disability and neuro-inclusion

Rachel Osikoya and Jasjyot Singh, OBE | 12 May 2025

"For our customers, we want to be the trusted market leader in accessible and inclusive products, services, and experiences."

Read their article Opens in same tab

The Lilac Review: a aatalyst for change

In 2023, we co-produced the Disability And Entrepreneurship Report Small Business Britain, surveying 500 Disabled entrepreneurs. This led to the Lilac Review, a government-backed initiative to address systemic barriers.

In February 2024, we hosted the launch of the Lilac Review at our Head Office, bringing together over 100 entrepreneurs, supporters, and government ministers. The event marked a turning point - uniting government, corporates, and the Disabled entrepreneurial ecosystem to drive change.

In May 2025, the Lilac Review's final report was published calling for bold and urgent action to empower millions of Disabled entrepreneurs across the country, combat inequality and drive business revenue growth. Following an intensive inquiry over two years, the Review has concluded that significant financial, operational, and accessibility barriers are holding back the nation's Disabled-led businesses. The final report issues over 20 recommendations for central and local government, financial institutions, and business support organisations to build a more inclusive economy.

Final Report recommendations (May 2025):

  • Simplify access to financial services through radical process redesign.
  • Provide more flexible finance options, such as payment holidays and tailored repayment terms, to meet diverse business needs
  • Trust-based assessments of disability, replacing burdensome proof-based models.
  • Inclusive product development: Involve Disabled entrepreneurs in design and review.
  • Tailored business support: Localised, flexible, and relevant to the unique needs of Disabled founders.
  • Inclusive procurement: Encourage public and private sectors to open up opportunities for Disabled-led businesses.
  • Leverage AI and assistive tech innovation to improve accessibility and opportunity.
  • Build social capital through mentorship and networking.

The Lilac Review

There's a significant opportunity to improve the UK's business output by up to £230 billion if we can remove the barriers faced by disabled entrepreneurs. 

Watch the video Opens in a new tab

What is Lloyds Banking Group doing to support disabled entrepreneurs?

Our purpose is helping Britain prosper and we provide banking to around one million businesses. We want to do whatever we can to help as many of them as possible, thrive and grow – to help us grow our business, and so that across society, people can make their contribution.

That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers and creating opportunities for Disabled entrepreneurs.

 

Key Initiatives we’ve implemented so far:

  • Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship: As a founding signatory, we’re committed to:
    • Designing inclusive financial products from the outset.
    • Providing tailored support to help Disabled entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
    • Co-creating services with Disabled entrepreneurs to ensure relevance and accessibility.
    • Ensuring disability representation within our workforce
  • Disabled Entrepreneurs Hub: A central resource that helps entrepreneurs navigate financial and non-financial support, including business skills, mentorship, and networking.
  • Partnership with Small Business Britain: We host events, mentorship programmes, and campaigns that promote visibility and celebrate Disabled role models.
  • Co-creating new propositions and services with active consultation on the design process by Disabled entrepreneurs to enable better outcomes for customers. 
  • Digital Accessibility: We work with the Digital Accessibility Centre to ensure our websites and apps are usable by all. We were also the first UK bank to offer Signly, a BSL translation tool, across our websites.

Naidex 2025: a platform for progress

Naidex is the UK’s largest event for the disability community, with around 12,000 attendees across the two days. It’s an opportunity for Disabled business owners, as well as consumers, carers and service providers, to come together to share support, resources and inspiration. The conference has been running for 50 years, and while Lloyds Banking Group has attended in the past, 2025 was the first time we’ve stepped into the headline sponsorship role.

Being at the conference gave us the opportunity to bring together colleagues from across a number of our business units that play a part in supporting the disability agenda. It meant that we were able to talk to different attendees about their own specific interests and needs – from starting and scaling a business – to accessible recruitment – to supporting vulnerable customers.

It also gave us the opportunity to be on the ground and get real-time feedback on what people really need from their bank. 

Elevate disabled founders pitch

The Disabled Founders Pitch was a standout moment at Naidex. From 70 applicants, 11 were shortlisted, and four finalists pitched live on stage. This initiative was the first of its kind in the UK, and something we have proudly introduced to Naidex. It gave much needed visibility and voice to Disabled founders - and we’re just getting started.

The road ahead

The Lilac Review has shown us what’s possible. Now, it’s time to act and implement the recommendations. At Lloyds Banking Group, we’re committed to being part of the solution - by listening, learning, and leading.

 

 

Cool Crutches

Amelia Peckham, co-founder of Cool Crutches & Walking Sticks, acquired her disability at the age  of 19 following a serious accident.

Along with her mum Clare, she founded her business in 2006. 

Read her story

Our people Diversity

Elyn Corfield
About the author Elyn Corfield

CEO, Business & Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group

Elyn Corfield was appointed in July 2022 as CEO, Business & Commercial Banking, serving all micro, small and medium sized business customers as they grow and evolve, providing specialist sector propositions and supporting customer needs across all banking products. 

Prior to joining the Group in 2017 through the acquisition of MBNA, where Elyn was Chief Financial Officer, she held a number of finance leadership roles. Before her current role, Elyn was the Managing Director, Consumer Finance, responsible for the Group’s Consumer Credit Card, Commercial Credit Card, Unsecured Personal Loan, Motor Finance and Motor Leasing portfolios in the UK.

Elyn is a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, lives in the North West, acted as Lloyds Banking Group’s Ambassador for the North for three years to December 2021, and is a Trustee of the MBNA Foundation, a charitable trust. 

Follow Elyn on LinkedIn.

Related content

Supporting business

We’re proud to be a partner of choice for British business, nearing one million UK businesses are supported by our leading digital and relationship banking services, as they start up, grow and thrive.

2024 was a year of progress for many businesses taking the next step on their journey.

Visit the business hub opens in same tab

Creating an inclusive workplace for people with disabilities

30 April 2025 | Ross Hovey

Ross Hovey, Group Accessibility Manager, on how flexible working, accessible toilets and an inclusive mindset have helped create a better working environment for people with disabilities.

Read Ross's article

Diversity and inclusion

A more inclusive business is a stronger business.

Our goal is to keep inclusion at the heart of everything we do, ensuring it influences every aspect of our work with our customers, colleagues, communities and partners.

Our approach Opens in same tab