Geoff Holt wins Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs

Geoff Holt wins the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015 © David Cotter

Leading yachtsman and disability advocate wins the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015

Unique award worth £50,000 is chosen personally by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou Both runners up (a film maker and rehab specialist) also receive £10,000 each

A prominent disabled yachtsman and his business WetWheels has won the prestigious Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015, chosen personally by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, along with £10,000 extra to the two runners up.

WetWheels founder, Geoff Holt MBE, who wins the £50,000 prize for his company WetWheels, was paralysed in a swimming accident in 1984 and uses a wheelchair. In 1995 he became the inaugural chairman of national sailing charity RYA Sailability, a role he held for six years. In 2007 he became the first paralysed person to sail single-handed around Great Britain. In 2009 he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted and in 2017 he plans to sail around the world.

WetWheels, a Community Interest Company (CIC) run out of Portsmouth, operates fully accessible boats to provide boating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Run by Geoff Holt MBE the company offers disabled clients educational and mentoring programmes, along with sporting and recreational trips on water.

The two runners up, Andrew Gilbert of Gilbey Films and Anna Wilkinson of More Rehab.com both receive £10,000 each. For more information, please see notes to editors.

Sir Stelios said: "We have three worthy winners this year that will be great role models for others to start their own business in the future. From next year, I have decided to move to a system of more awards of a lower value but given to more people each year so we can reach more and more start-ups."

Geoff Holt, the winner, said, "I am deeply honoured to have been chosen by Sir Stelios and the award will really give us the chance to expand our services for disabled people. Over the years I have witnessed thousands of disabled people of all ages enjoy our boats and services. It doesn't matter if that is on a sail boat or a motor boat; it is being on the water that makes the difference. "

Geoff was one of three short-listed finalists in the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015, run by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and leading charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. Now in its ninth year, the award recognizes the unique achievements of disabled entrepreneurs and offers a £50,000 cash prize to the winner - the largest cash sum of its kind in the UK.

Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, who attended the ceremony, said: "With this award Sir Stelios and Leonard Cheshire are giving disabled entrepreneurs the chance to turn their vision into a reality. The ideas on show from all three finalists demonstrate the depth of talent and drive among disabled people in the UK, and will challenge misconceptions around what disabled people can achieve."

Chief Executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability Clare Pelham said: "Today we celebrate the amazing achievements of disabled entrepreneurs. Each and every one a wonderful success story. And we thank Sir Stelios for his long-term generosity, who has yet again surprised us by awarding not only the winner, but the runners-up as well.

But let us not forget, as Poppy Day approaches, there are 12 million disabled people in this country. And they are twice as likely to be unemployed. It's not proper remembrance, if we don't all unite to make sure disabled people are visible in every workplace and in the leadership of every business. And if they're not, why not?"

The winner of the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015 was announced at a special awards ceremony held in London on 4 November.