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01 Jul 2026
That is why the Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship (DFCE) matters. UK Finance’s second annual report on the Code shows how banks have strengthened their support for disabled business owners over the past year, with progress across accessibility, tailored support, data and representation.
Disabled entrepreneurs make up 25 per cent of the UK’s small businesses but account for only 8.6 per cent of small business turnover. This gap highlights both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to build a more inclusive business environment.
What is the Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship?
Launched in December 2024, the DFCE is a shared commitment by financial services firms to make it easier for disabled people to start, run and grow businesses. It focuses on four key areas: making services more accessible, offering tailored support, improving data and understanding, and increasing disability representation.
How banks are putting the Code into action:
Implementing inclusive design principles by making banking more accessible: signatories have implemented inclusive design across physical environments and digital platforms. Examples include NatWest making accessibility improvements to Bankline - its online banking platform for larger businesses - and expanding the use of Banking My Way, which enables customers to record support needs and accessibility adjustments across digital, branch and telephony channels. Barclays has also introduced branch quiet times across its UK network, creating calmer and more predictable environments for disabled and neurodivergent customers.
Expanding targeted support for founders: new initiatives are helping disabled entrepreneurs access practical advice, peer networks, coaching and tailored business education. This includes HSBC’s founding partnership in Tech Nation’s Creo programme, which supports disabled and neurodivergent founders through workshops, peer networks and coaching. Barclays also hosted a Disabled Entrepreneurs’ Growth Session for more than 150 founders, partners and colleagues, while NatWest partnered with Hatch Enterprise to launch a disabled-led business launchpad delivered by experts with lived experience.
Actively showcasing disabled-led businesses: signatories are increasing the visibility of disabled entrepreneurs through case studies, campaigns and events that challenge assumptions about disability and enterprise. Lloyds launched its Disability Means Business campaign, highlighting disabled-led SMEs across the UK, including Emma Heathcote-James, founder of the Little Soap Company. Barclays has also profiled Snowball, an accessibility technology platform founded by Simon Sansome, demonstrating how lived experience can drive scalable, commercially viable innovation.
Strengthening and supporting disabled colleague representation: firms are also focusing on disability representation and inclusion within their own organisations, recognising that colleague insight helps shape better customer outcomes. Lloyds has surpassed its target for senior disability representation, now at 19 per cent, and its disability and neuro-inclusion learning programme has reached more than 47,000 colleagues. Barclays’ disability, mental health and neurodiversity employee resource group, Reach, has more than 5,000 members and plays an active role in shaping policy, systems and procurement decisions.
Why this matters for growth.
Improving access to financial services for disabled entrepreneurs is not only an inclusion priority; it is also an economic opportunity. When more founders can access the right finance, advice and networks, they are better placed to grow their businesses, create jobs and contribute to the UK economy.
The report also sets out signatories’ plans for the year ahead, recognising that this is a long-term commitment. UK Finance will continue to work with industry, government and key partners to support the next phase of the Code and help ensure financial services are accessible for all entrepreneurs, regardless of disability.
The progress made so far shows what is possible when financial services firms work together with disabled entrepreneurs, government and specialist partners. The next step is to build on this momentum so that more disabled founders can access the finance, support and confidence they need to start and scale successful businesses.
01.07.26
James Jeffreys, Principal, Commercial Finance, UK Finance
In our sixteenth cohort of the award-winning Vulnerability and Consumer Duty Academy, we will be bringing this to life across twelve sessions, including an induction, a graduation and ten interactive, practical, and problem-solving online workshops.
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