Rachel Shapey, a Secondary school teacher from Stockport, has received £10,000 as one of the finalists of this year’s Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs.
Rachel’s icancompose.com website guides students through the academic side of composition with resources designed to build confidence preparing for GCSE and A Level examinations.
Rachel was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS twelve years ago. She began learning the piano at the age of five, later taking up the flute as well as playing the organ in the local church.
The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs
The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs, jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, founded by EasyJet’s Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, started 12 years ago. It recognises the achievements of disabled entrepreneurs in the UK. A record number of over 82 candidates applied for the 2018 Award, with applications coming from a diverse mix of sectors, including fashion, retail, sport and leisure and tourism.
The overall winner was awarded £30,000 and the remaining shortlisted applicants, including Rachel, received £10,000 each.
Past winners have been drawn from the travel agency, building and IT sectors as well as businesses specialising in disability and mobility aids and services. The cheques were presented at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 14 November 2018.
Speaking about the award, Rachel said:
‘I’m over the moon and just hope I can get a babysitter on the night! My brother lives in London so he’ll be joining me if my husband has to stay on parenting duties in Stockport.’
