2024 Shortlisted Nominee
Entrepreneur of Excellence Award
Helen Cooke, a prominent UK disability employment expert, has dedicated nearly two decades to enhancing career opportunities for disabled individuals, with a specific focus on supporting graduates entering the workplace. As a wheelchair user due to a childhood spinal cord injury, Helen founded disability employment consultancy 'MyPlus' in 2005. Her vision is to remind employers that disabled individuals bring valuable skills and talents, ‘plus’s’, to organisations. In 2013, Helen launched the MyPlus Students’ Club website to bridge the employment gap for disabled students, offering free career advice and support. Helen finds the most gratification in empowering disabled individuals to embrace their skills and ambitions in the workplace. Helen is also a Trustee for The Back Up Trust, a charity supporting those affected by spinal cord injury; in 2021 Helen completed the London Marathon to raise funds for Back Up.