Launching the Disability Trading Framework: A New Chapter for Inclusive Supply Chains

On Monday 13 May 2025, Seema Flower had the great privilege of attending the launch of the Disability Trading Framework at the House of Lords, an event that felt both symbolic and transformative. With legislators, business leaders, and changemakers gathered, the moment affirmed a hopeful direction for disabled entrepreneurs across the UK.

The Disability Trading Framework is an ambitious initiative co-designed by Small Business Britain, the Disability Trading Framework Taskforce, and the Business Disability Forum. It builds on the insights of The Lilac Review and responds to the urgent need to open up procurement and supply chain opportunities for Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent founders.

What Signatories Commit To

Organisations that sign up to the Framework pledge to make tangible progress in removing barriers and improving access. The Framework sets out six key areas of commitment:

Inclusive Procurement Practices — involving disabled entrepreneurs in reviewing and adjusting procurement policies and processes.
Supplier Diversity and Inclusion — embedding disabled-led businesses within supplier diversity strategies.
Internal Training and Awareness — equipping procurement and buying teams with understanding of the challenges disabled entrepreneurs face.
Promotion of Disability Inclusion — elevating visibility of disabled business owners in communications and case studies.
Inclusive Process Design — co-designing procedures with disabled founders to ensure accessibility.
Proactive Engagement and Support — actively reaching out, providing guidance, and lowering entry barriers for disabled entrepreneurs.

As the Framework notes, disabled entrepreneurs currently face serious obstacles: inaccessible systems, opaque procurement portals, and a lack of representation in key decision-making.

Why This Matters — The Lilac Review’s Legacy

The Framework doesn’t stand alone — it complements the wider work of The Lilac Review, whose final report, published in May 2025, laid out more than twenty recommendations to level up opportunities for disabled founders. The Review estimated that removing barriers in trade and procurement could unlock £230 billion in business turnover across the UK.

One of the related initiatives is the Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship, which aims to address unequal access to capital for disabled business owners.

Reflections from the Launch

Seema was humbled and proud to be present at the launch. To stand alongside Michelle Ovens CBE, Head of the Lilac Review, and the many voices who have campaigned passionately for systemic change, was a reminder that progress is always collective. Michelle’s leadership through Small Business Britain has been vital in turning this vision into reality.

Being invited to help celebrate this success once again reinforced Seema’s belief that inclusion is not an afterthought — it must be embedded at every level of organisational design, policy, and practice.

At the event, Seema was pleased to see ministerial support for the Framework, signalling the government’s growing recognition of how public procurement can evolve to become more accessible and equitable. The venue itself — the House of Lords — gave the moment both symbolism and weight.

Yet while the Framework’s launch is cause for celebration, it is also a call to action. Commitments are only meaningful when followed by transparency, accountability, and measurable change.

Looking Ahead

Accountability and reporting: Signatories should publish annual progress reports with feedback from disabled entrepreneurs.
Support for smaller organisations: Tailored assistance and mentoring will be essential to widen participation.
Co-design from the start: Procurement systems and documents must be developed in collaboration with disabled founders.
Raising awareness: Every sector — large and small — should adopt these principles.
Connecting finance and trade: Access to capital, networks, and mentoring are as vital as access to procurement.

Above all, the Disability Trading Framework must become more than a statement. It should be a living tool for transformation — a mechanism that ensures disabled-led businesses are fully included in every part of our economy. One day, accessibility will not be exceptional, but expected.