After contracting polio aged five, Dr Mark Esho was given a 10 per cent chance of survival and was left partially paralysed. However, he studied an MBA and became an entrepreneur, founding Easy Internet Services and Ability Connect CIC, a social enterprise that gives disabled entrepreneurs the tools, resources and support they need to make their business ideas a success. He also sits on the Lilac Review’s Steering Board, an independent review researching the challenges and opportunities faced by disabled-led businesses. He shares his advice for making a success of business.

1 Embrace and listen to inclusive leaders. My experience of becoming disabled from polio has given me a unique insight and transferable skills such as resilience that are invaluable for business. Create a culture where different viewpoints, including those of disabled people, are valued in decision-making.

2 Ensure you are truly accessible. Accessibility benefits everyone and opens opportunity. Discover the barriers employees and customers face to fully access your business, both in-person and digitally, and find solutions.

3 Create a brand with broad appeal. Intentionally emphasise diversity and inclusion, including a range of success stories, as it will help to attract a wider audience of both talent and customers.

4 Drive Continuous Development. People need to be moving forwards, otherwise they will move on. Provide opportunities for career development, growth and leadership training based on individual skills and goals.

5 Stay Flexible. The pandemic showed how much employees value flexibility. It helps to promote wellbeing and work-life balance, especially for disabled staff. Businesses need to ensure that progress isn’t reversed. Encourage flexible scheduling, remote work choices and supportive policies.

6 Transparent communication. Create trust by openly discussing disability issues and accommodations. Too often people feel they must hide their needs. Instead, encourage teams to communicate requirements, concerns and experiences and find shared solutions that benefit everyone.