Meet the young entrepreneurs who turned their bright idea into a dream career

Caprice–Kwai Ambersley, 24

“My accessories allow me to reclaim my voice – every piece is a little act of defiance, confidence and self–celebration”

The business: Accessories that encourage self–expression

Accessory and jewellery designer Caprice-Kwai Ambersley’s lightbulb moment came in hospital following major surgery in 2018.

“I didn’t feel like myself, so I put on a pair of earrings to make myself feel better and I felt instantly empowered,” she says. There and then, she knew her calling was to help others feel that sense of empowerment, too.

“Accessories have played a big part in my sense of style, especially on days where I haven’t been able to wear specific clothes because of my disability, or when I haven’t even been able to dress myself after surgery,” she says. “I’ve often felt overlooked - wearing bold, expressive pieces became my way of showing up with pride and confidence. My accessories allow me to reclaim my voice - every piece is a little act of defiance, confidence and self-celebration,” she says.

She launched her business, By Caprice-Kwai, on her first day at university in September 2021. “I remember my mum and I didn’t sleep that night to ensure our PR packages went out – and my website went live that same day,” she says.

Since launching, Caprice–Kwai has attended countless pop–up events: “I’ve been invited to Meta, Financial Times, Pride in London, NBCUniversal and Netflix, allowing me to meet my customers and build brand awareness, leading to loyal and repeat customers.”

While working across every aspect of your business can be overwhelming, Caprice–Kwai says, “building routines, setting achievable goals and investing in a business coach has helped. “She has also learned to “embrace the pace of my own journey – things may take longer, but it doesn’t mean I’m less powerful.”

In fact, Caprice–Kwai feels her disability makes her better at what she does. “It’s taught me to be adaptable, to solve problems creatively and to advocate for myself. I’ve learned how to navigate systems that weren’t built with me in mind, which gives me a unique ability to think outside the box. It’s also made me more intentional; every piece I create has meaning.”

Caprice–Kwai describes feeling proud of building a brand which she describes as “unapologetically bold, creative and rooted in purpose.” But that’s not to say she has always been brimming with confidence. “It’s OK to feel daunted – I did too. Take small steps, trust your ideas, and don’t be afraid to ask for support,” she advises. “Your perspective is your power, and being creative and having a disability means you bring something unique to the table that no one else can.”

Explore Caprice–Kwai’s work on her website.

Charlie Randell, 26

“I think people enjoy my humorous way of approaching things”

The business: Content that speaks to ‘everyone’

Charlie Randell is the content creator, and disability and inclusion consultant, behind Not Quite Politically Correct (visit the podcast website).

As a wheelchair user with Cerebral Palsy, he launched his own YouTube channel in 2017 because he loved watching fitness videos, “but nobody with a disability was doing it from that perspective, so I thought I’d give it a go”, he says.

“I was only 17, so I bought a cheap camera on eBay, got a friend to help me with recording, and started posting.”

His channel quickly evolved to cover disability education, travel and dating videos, and he recently launched the Not Quite Podcast, too – all displaying his characteristic humour and warmth. That evolution has been the secret to his success: “I noticed a lot more traction, particularly when I covered topics like disability and dating, which led to opportunities for consultancy, training and representation on social media and beyond,” he says.

He has built a loyal audience with 1,540 subscribers, which he puts down to “consistency and being authentically me, in terms of the content I create. Also, I think people enjoy my humorous way of approaching things.”

Charlie pinpoints modelling for adaptive fashion brand, Unhidden, at London Fashion Week, and consulting on improving access at the Six Nations as his career highlights to date.

Being a Motability Scheme customer for the last eight years has given him independence, but it also impacted his personal life. When he met his partner – and now business partner – Gina, she lived in a different city, so his car made it possible for him to travel to see her.

The biggest lesson he’s learned is not to overcommit: “It’s hard to say no, but you can end up pushing yourself too far and find yourself unable to enjoy or even take part in amazing opportunities, due to burnout,” he says. “Also, don’t fall into the trap of having to present yourself a certain way – stay authentic.”

Charlie doesn’t have a PA, but Gina, who he describes as a marketing whizz, assists with ideas, shoots and scheduling content.

Charlie’s future plans include his Podcast (available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts), and increasing his consultancy to work with big brands on improving accessibility, particularly when it comes to employment.

“When I look back at how far we’ve come, I’m proud,” says Charlie. “When I first started, I thought there was no chance it would go anywhere, but I’ve had so many amazing opportunities because I gave it a go.”

Visit Charlie’s podcast page.

Alycia Hirani, 32

“Each design reflects the wearer’s spirit”

The business: Beautiful couture that’s truly adaptive

“Because I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, I had a lot of fractures growing up. While recovering, I’d turn to art, films and books to keep my imagination alive, which sparked a lifelong love of visual creativity,” says Alycia Hirani, owner of Emiah, which specialises in bespoke couture, bridalwear and corsetry.

As a little girl, she started out making outfits for her dolls from scraps of fabric. Now, Alycia creates opulent, textured clothing: “I love pairing sharply tailored silhouettes with detailed elements, such as encrusted lace or intricate beadwork,” she says. “I want each piece to reflect the wearer’s spirit and help their inner beauty shine out.”

Having started Emiah while at university, Alycia found the transition from student to professional tough. “Suddenly, I was navigating industries, like fashion and theatre, that felt fast–paced and inaccessible, but rather than giving up, I started carving out my own path,” she says.

Until four years ago, Alycia describes Emiah as an expensive hobby. “I lacked the confidence to take the leap – starting a business is daunting, especially doing it solo and facing extra barriers,” she says. “But with support from The King’s Trust and Business Wales/Big Ideas Wales, I was finally able to take the plunge.” They assigned Alycia a work coach, who helped to navigate benefits – running her own business didn’t affect her PIP, and she qualifies for Universal Credit.

Alycia’s disability makes her a more empathetic designer: “I’ve had to find flexible solutions in everything I do, which has made me more considerate of others,” she says. “I want my clients not only to feel beautiful but be comfortable.”

At times, Alycia says she can lack energy, and injuries can throw off plans. “When I need to cut large pieces of fabric, I rely on family to help me lay everything out. Then I get down on my hands and knees, with kneepads, to pin and cut the fabric. The next day, I need to rest and recover, which eats into the time I could be using to work.” Alycia has applied for a PA through Access to Work and is hoping she’ll soon receive the assistance she needs.

Since starting Emiah, Alycia has been featured in the book All Access Sewing by Rebecca Cole and was a seamstress on Channel 4’s Unique Boutique and she’s not slowing down. She is planning to create DIY embellishment kits to “guide people to create their own beautiful pieces”, as well as continuing to share her story through public speaking.

“I want to shine a light on people like me, who are doing what we love, despite the challenges we face. Growing up, I didn’t see enough of that kind of representation,” she says.

Visit the Emiah website.

Kian Lawn, 21

“I’ve helped over 1,500 people communicate more easily”

The business: Sweatshirts that unlock communication

Kian Lawn is the creator behind My Best Interest – communication sweatshirts for children and adults with autism, who are non–verbal or have difficulty communicating.

Inspired by a desire to help his partner, he started by drawing early designs on his iPad in January 2025. “Because I love and care for my partner, I wanted to help her, and people like her. I also have a visual impairment, Nystagmus and ADHD. If I was going to have a business, it needed to have a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Kian.

Having worked on some early designs, Kian set about learning how to use the digital art app, Procreate. Next, he made his first prototype. “It was a cheap jumper with an awful texture and my designs were cut out and taped on,” he reveals. “I took that to someone who prints clothes, and they recommended a jumper made of comfortable material, digitised the designs and printed them for me.”

Inspired, he set about teaching himself about printing, by watching professionals on YouTube and TikTok. He then made a TikTok video advertising his sweatshirts, and encouraged people to sign up to an email waiting list.

A website launch soon followed and the rest is history. Kian has sold around 800 sweatshirts and hoodies in just over eight months.

There have been challenges along the way: “Everything takes considerably longer than you think,” he says. “But with perseverance and a plan, you can achieve anything. There are also people who will help if you’re doing good things – I got a grant from UnLtd [which offers support for social entrepreneurs in the UK].”

His ADHD, meanwhile, is both an asset and a drawback. “It helps with creativity, but it can also hinder focus and concentration,” says Kian. And while he doesn't have a PA, he has “emotional support and encouragement from my partner and family”.

There’s plenty for Kian to be proud of, but his highlights include being a finalist at the UK StartUp Awards (for social enterprise in the South East of England). More importantly for him: “I’ve helped over 1,500 people communicate more easily, have sold jumpers in 14 countries and 13 US states, and I’m the first person in my family to make and sell their own products.”

His advice to budding entrepreneurs? “It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. You’ll regret not doing it if you don’t.”

Explore the My Best Interest website.