The LILAC Centre for Disabled Entrepreneurship
(Launch, Incubation, Leadership, Accelerator & Community)
The LILAC Centre for Disabled Entrepreneurship will be the UK’s first flagship business incubator and research centre dedicated to advancing the success of Disabled entrepreneurs.
With a hybrid physical and virtual model, hosted at ARU Peterborough and Small Business Britain, the Centre will champion innovation, leadership and inclusive enterprise.
Core PIllars of LILAC
- Launch: Business support and onboarding for new Disabled entrepreneurs.
- Incubation: Physical and virtual incubation for early-stage businesses.
- Leadership: A training and mentorship pathway for Disabled business leaders.
- Accelerator: Structured scaling support for ambitious, growing ventures.
- Community: A vibrant network and support ecosystem, built on accessibility and shared experience.
Physical Hub at ARU Peterborough:
- Fully accessible space
- Inclusive event and workshop facilities
- Other facilities to be developed
Virtual Hub:
- Hosted by Small Business Britain
- Nationally accessible online platform with learning, networking, mentoring, and resources
- AI-driven personalisation for access needs and learning preferences
Co-Developed Training & Programmes:
- Courses and workshops created in collaboration with Disabled founders
- opics include: accessible finance, digital inclusion, inclusive marketing, leadership
Research & Observatory:
- Ongoing data collection and analysis of Disabled entrepreneurship
- Partnership with PhD candidates and academic institutions
- Publication of insight reports, impact audits, and recommendations to government and industry
Events & Public Engagement:
- Annual LILAC Summit
- Roundtables with policymakers and business leaders
- Success story campaigns and public-facing storytelling
The LILAC Centre will be the bold, inclusive, game-changing infrastructure that transforms opportunities for Disabled entrepreneurs across the UK and beyond.
