Andrew
Thomson wins £50,000 Stelios Award for
Disabled Entrepreneurs 2008
posted: Dec 5, 2008
Andrew Thomson won the Stelios
Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2008, run by charity
Leonard Cheshire Disability, at the Chamber of
Commerce Business Awards Ceremony in London.
Andrew, 44, from Grangemouth in Scotland is a
director of Sign-now.com, a web based video conferencing
translation service which enables deaf people to
communicate with the hearing public. Andrew has
been profoundly deaf since birth and uses British
Sign Language as his main means of communication.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, of easyGroup presented
the £50,000 prize to Andrew.
Sir Stelios said: “I am passionate about
encouraging the enterprising spirit and working
with Leonard Cheshire Disability to set up the
Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs.
“I would like to congratulate Andrew, he
runs a successful business and displays the drive,
creativity and determination to reach the top and
really fly. The £50,000 prize will ensure
Sign-now.com has a great platform for growth.
“With around 50 per cent of disabled adults
out of work, removing the barriers disabled people
face in business is essential. Self-employment
is a more viable option for many disabled people
as it offers flexibility and helps bypass much
of the prejudice that sadly still exists amongst
employers.”
Andrew Thomson said: “It's a great honour
to have won this fantastic award and to have Sign-now.com
recognised in this way.
There are only 25 full time BSL interpreters in
Scotland for 7,000 sign language users. This places
a huge demand for skilled communicators. With an
online facility like Sign-now.com it gives those
with hearing impairments the opportunity to access
an interpreter quickly and easily.
“The £50,000 will be used to expand
Sign-now.com which will mean we can grow our business,
reach our to new clients and expand our services
to existing customers.
“For the business to grow, it is all about
gaining the confidence of not only of our clients
but the trust and support of the interpreters we
employ. I believe that a positive approach is the
way to overcome the fear, prejudice and misconception
that often stand in the way of disabled people."
Anna Cooper, Leonard Cheshire Disability Corporate
Development Manager said: “Disabled people
in business experience disadvantage and discrimination
every day, largely through ignorance, and this
needs to change.
“Our partnership with Sir Stelios is helping
the charity highlight the barriers disabled people
face in the workplace and recognise the outstanding
achievement of disabled entrepreneurs. Leonard
Cheshire Disability leads the way with innovative
initiatives and campaigns that challenge people
to change the way they see disability, and this
award plays a big part in this.“
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