Seema Flower Reflects on the Launch of The Lilac Review Final Report at the House of Lords

On 12 May 2025, Seema Flower joined an inspiring gathering of changemakers at the House of Lords for the official launch of The Lilac Review: Final Report — a landmark moment for disabled entrepreneurs across the UK. With spring sunshine glowing on the Thames and optimism in the air, this event marked the culmination of 18 months of rigorous research, policy development, and community engagement, spearheaded by Small Business Britain and its partners.

Seema, founder and Managing Director of Blind Ambition, was honoured to be part of the event. Interviewed by the Small Business Britain team on the House of Lords balcony, she shared her reaction to the report and the sense of possibility it signals:

“The Lilac Review has shown what we’ve always known — that disabled entrepreneurs are not just resilient, but vital to the future of our economy. It’s time for policymakers, funders, and businesses to catch up and build systems that work for us, not around us.” — Seema Flower

What Is The Lilac Review?

The Lilac Review was launched to identify and break down the systemic barriers faced by disabled entrepreneurs in the UK. Its final report, supported by Lloyds, BT, the Department for Business and Trade, and many others, sets out clear, actionable recommendations across five critical areas:

Access to Finance
Disabled entrepreneurs are 400 times less likely to receive investment than their non-disabled peers. The report introduces the Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship (DFCE), signed by major banks including Lloyds and NatWest, calling for inclusive financial products, mentoring, and tailored support.
Social Capital & Networking
51% of disabled founders highlighted networking and mentorship as critical needs — yet traditional structures often exclude them. The report urges scalable, peer-led mentorship models centred on lived experience.
Local Support
Local business services often lack the accessibility and continuity that disabled founders need. The Lilac Review recommends every council have a named disability entrepreneurship lead, tied to local funding accountability.
Artificial Intelligence & Technology
63% of disabled entrepreneurs are already using AI tools to reduce fatigue, enhance productivity, and manage time. The report champions inclusive AI as a catalyst for independence and innovation.
Inclusive Trade & Procurement
The newly launched Disability Trading Framework aims to open up supply chains, calling on government and corporates to embed accessibility in procurement and track disabled supplier inclusion.

A Day of Vision, Voices and Visibility

Hosted in one of the UK’s most historic and influential settings, the launch event blended policy with powerful personal testimony. Seema’s presence symbolised the lived experience behind the statistics. She spoke to peers, parliamentarians, and press about Blind Ambition’s ongoing work — not only in training employers and organisations to understand visual and disability awareness, but in actively helping to solve the crisis of unemployment among blind and partially sighted people.

With over 75% of blind people still out of work, the stakes are high. Yet the mood at the House of Lords was one of determination and momentum.

With Thanks

Seema and the Blind Ambition team would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Michelle Ovens CBE and her brilliant team at Small Business Britain for making The Lilac Review a reality. Their leadership, drive, and dedication to inclusive entrepreneurship has created a powerful platform for change — and we are proud to support this ongoing movement.

What Happens Next?

The report outlines the development of a national LILAC Centre for Disabled Entrepreneurship — combining research, incubation, leadership training and mentoring. It will be the first of its kind in the UK and represents a concrete next step towards inclusion-led innovation.

Seema and the Blind Ambition team will continue to work with Small Business Britain and other partners to ensure disabled entrepreneurs are not just included in future planning — but central to it.