The code is a shared initiative between Government and leading banks, such as Barclays, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest, to support disabled entrepreneurs to access the finance required to start and grow their own firms.

It stems from the Lilac Review, an independent review spearheaded by Small Business Britain which aims to tackle the inequality faced by disabled founders. Research from the Lilac Review found that if opportunities were improved for disabled founders, it could unlock an additional £230 billion for the UK economy in growth and jobs.

Disabled entrepreneurs currently account for approximately 25% of the nation's 5.5 million small businesses, but only 8.6% of total small business turnover. Four fifths feel they have unequal access to opportunities and resources.

What does the code include?

The code outlines the following commitments for financial institutions:

• Improve and apply inclusive design principles to all products and services, adhering to good practice guidance.
• Offer accessible and practical support for disabled founders, such as mentoring, networking events, finance readiness education, and business planning. Lenders should also consider setting up targeted activities for disabled entrepreneurs.
• Showcase disabled entrepreneurs who have successfully accessed banking products and services to build and grow their businesses.
• Actively support the representation of disabled colleagues in the organisation.

Research from the Lilac Review has shown that disabled entrepreneurs face significant challenges when accessing finance, including:

• Limited visibility of financial products tailored to their needs.
• Accessibility issues with banking and procurement processes.
• Lack of representation in financial services.

The Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship seeks to address these issues by creating a more inclusive financial environment, making financial services "open for business" to disabled entrepreneurs.