Inclusion Wins LBA Award
“THE winner has been announced of a Courier-backed scheme aimed at boosting local business.
Matthew Box, 38, from Tunbridge Wells, has been chosen as the winner of the 2013 Local Business Accelerator initiative for West Kent.
His three year-old company, disability specialist Inclusion Me Limited, now stands to benefit from a series of free advertisements in the Courier and mentoring from local businessman Ian Bovis, branch manager at the Paddock Wood office of estate agent Simon Miller and Company.
On top of the local award, Mr Box’s name will now be entered into a national competition, the ultimate winner of which will receive business mentoring from Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Mr Box. “I’ve never won anything in my life, so this is quite exciting.”
Asked why Mr Bovis chose Inclusion Me as the winner, he said: “I took a look at the website to see the kind of work they are doing and decided this would be a worthy cause to develop with them.” He added: “They have captured the attention of some large companies so, if they can use this opportunity to expand locally, then this has to be a good thing.”
Mr Box, who has spent almost half his life developing his skills as a qualified occupational therapist, owns and runs Inclusion Me with his wife Gwen and business partner Walter Brazil. The company, which has six permanent employees, works with up to 30 external qualified occupational therapists to offer its specialist services nationwide.
The work undertaken divides into two main areas: occupational therapy on behalf of local authorities – it has five on its books – and for individuals; and disability access audits for businesses, such as top London department store Selfridges in Oxford Street.
Mr Box, who lives with his wife and two young daughters in Hawkenbury, explained: “A lot of our work involves helping to improve the function and environment for people who may have physical disabilities or learning difficulties.
“We also support and advise companies on compliance under the Equality Act.”
The Local Business Accelerator is an initiative from the regional press industry to help boost local businesses.
For more information on Inclusion.Me visit the website www.inclusion.me.uk”