|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
    |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Award-winning business woman set to inspire disabled entrepreneurs
A hearing-impaired graduate who set up her own business is to encourage disabled people in the East Midlands to become entrepreneurs. Louise Westley, a De Montfort University (DMU) design management graduate, was this month named Woman with Determination at the 2007 Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Women of Achievement Awards. The 39-year-old, from Leicester, set up her Freedom Link company nine years ago to support college and university students with disabilities to gain qualifications, by providing academic support with note-taking, reading, personal assistance, exams, English and sign language. Freedom Link also offers training in deaf awareness and communication tactics. Now Louise is returning to DMU to speak to people with disabilities who have signed up for a new short course run by the University's Business Incubation and Enterprise Department. The course aims to provide the basic skills and knowledge needed to set up and run a business, helping people to get their ideas off the ground and giving them the best chance of success. It is funded by the European Social Fund, supported by the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA). Louise said: "Having a disability myself and having been to college and university has given me the understanding, insight and compassion to run Freedom Link and I love what I do. I think this course is brilliant as when I first started my business there was not much information around and I wish the course had been there to help me." An introductory session for the course takes place on Saturday 21 April at DMU's Graduate Business School, Western Boulevard, followed by one-day sessions in May and June. The course costs £50 and help with payment may be available depending on individual circumstances. To find out more about the DMU course call 0116 207 8914, email ceo@dmu.ac.uk see www.dmu.ac.uk/ceo or text 'ceo' plus your query to 07797 805 451. To contact Freedom Link email freedomlink01@hotmail.com
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
