In collaboration with Lloyds

Breakthrough

Empowering founders, removing barriers.

Breakthrough is an eight-week accelerator for disabled entrepreneurs who are ready to grow on their own terms. Built to remove systemic barriers and amplify the strengths founders already hold, the programme offers expert-led support, tailored funding advice, and a powerful community of peers with lived experience. From masterclasses to mentorship to a final showcase with funders, Breakthrough is designed to help founders scale strategically—without compromise, without assumptions, and without limits.

The accelerator will end with a Showcase Day, offering a platform for pitching to investors and accessing a £21k grant funding pot!

We are committed to providing an equitable experience so that every founder receives the support they need to succeed on the Breakthrough programme. If you have specific accessibility requirements or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us to discuss how we can best support you.

What's on offer

Access to a £21K funding pot

Tailored Funding Support

1-2-1 advice from Lloyds staff

Pitch your business to investors

Lived Experience Mentorship

Accessible Learning

Meet the 2025 cohort

View all

Lifespan Psychology

Our Pain 2 Power CIC

Nutriri

Own Your Flair Ltd.

Timeline

There are only 25 spaces available on this unique accelerator, delivered through a combination of virtual and in-person events from November through to February 2026. There will be a winter break at the end of December, with no requirement to commit to sessions during this period.

08 October

Applications open

12 November

Applications close

01 December

Accelerator starts

12 February

Showcase day

Areas of focus

Own the Room: Craft a Pitch That Lands

Built to Last: Making Your Business Future-Ready

Simplifying The Legals: What Founders Need To Know

Smarter, Not Harder: Systems That Scale With You

Know Your Numbers: Plan, Forecast, and Grow

Money Moves: Real Talk on Funding Your Next Stage

From Invisible to Unmissable: Marketing That Works

Sales Without the Stress: Boosting Revenue Sustainably

Lead Without Burnout: Building a Business That Works for You

Frequently Asked Questions

What do we mean by disability?

According to the Equality Act 2010 - a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Many people do not define themselves as disabled based on the legal definition. This has led organisations to adopt an approach known as the social model of disability. It argues that people are disabled due to society's barriers and focuses on removing them. As a business, you are advised to (a) identify these barriers, and (b) remove them wherever possible.

What are the different types of disability?

Physical: impaired physical ability such as Cerebral Palsy, RSI, Parkinson's, loss of mobility.
Mental: affecting thinking, emotional states or behaviours such as depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder.
Cognitive: the way people think, process and remember such as; Dyslexia, learning difficulties and dementia.
Sensory: affecting senses such as sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste or spatial awareness.
Health conditions: serious illness such as cancer, diabetes and HIV.

What are the other distinctions to be aware of?

Visible: immediately apparent, due to a person’s appearance, behaviour or use of a stick or wheelchair.
Non-visible: disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental health or long-term health conditions.
Born with: where a disability was present from birth.
Acquired: where a condition developed during a person’s lifetime or resulted from an accident.

Resources

Supporting Disabled Business Owners

The Lilac Review

Levelling the playing field for disabled entrepreneurs

Breakthrough is brought to you in partnership with Lloyds