Enterprising action

Waqas Hussain, 28, from Croydon, is a successful businessman.

Suit, tie and smooth-talking demeanor? Check. Owner of nationwide management consultant company? Check. Expansive vision for the future of his business? Check. Visually-impaired? Check.

But considering the stark figures that say 66 per cent of blind and partially-sighted people in the UK are unemployed, Mr Hussain is something of a novelty.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, he insists, which is why he is sitting on the steering committee of a new initiative from Action for Blind People (AfBP) that will provide support and guidance to London-based, visually-impaired entrepreneurs.

Enterprise in Sight, launched in December, received almost £400,000 from the London Development Agency’s Opportunities Fund.

The idea is to provide structured, practical support and guidance to London-based visually-impaired entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who want to capitalise on commercial opportunities surrounding the fast-approaching 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Would-be entrepreneurs will be able to access workshops, office space, post and telecommunications services, IT equipment and on-site business advice.

Mr Hussain received similar support from AfBP when he was starting his consultancy three years ago. AfBP business advisors steered him through his business plan preparation all the way through the start-up of his company, which he says is one of the most trying times for any entrepreneur.

Now he has a team of employees and travels around the country with his work.

“Everyone in society has something to contribute,” says Mr Hussain, whose company specialises in disability equality and diversity for major organisations such as the General Medical Council and Barclays.

“It’s making the best use of all the untapped resources out there.”

Barbara Morton, development manager at Action for Blind People, says: “Many blind and partially-sighted people find self-employment is an excellent way of generating income, as it allows them to accommodate their disability and maintain their own independence.

“I have two passions in life: entrepreneurship and inclusion,” says Mr Hussain. “If I can do it, everyone can do it. Nothing is impossible. But we need a lot more programmes like Enterprise in Sight to target these different groups who face barriers and help them realise their potential.”

* To find out more, tel: 020 76353011 or visit www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk