March’s Entrepreneurial Spirit winner…Josh Wintersgill!

Every month, the Awards is celebrating a member of the GBEA community who has shown incredible entrepreneurial spirit. And, as a reward, Glen Scotia Single Malt Whisky will be sending bottles of its classic Double Cask and 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whiskies.

March’s winner is Josh Wintersgill, founder of Able Move!

Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at 18 months old and confined to a wheelchair since the age of 10, Josh created Able Move in 2018 to help disabled people board aeroplanes safely and with dignity. He soon won the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs and secured a deal with easyJet, rebranding the product the easyTravelseat.

Against the backdrop of Covid-19 causing utter devastation to the aviation and travel industry, we’re celebrating Josh’s entrepreneurial spirit and determination to continue to innovate. This month, Josh launched the first of seven new products coming this year - the ableSling Lite - a lighter, cheaper and quicker drying version of the easyTravelseat. It also has a foldable headrest, an anti-slip base and is more discreet.

Iain McAlister, distillery manager at Glen Scotia Single Malt Scotch Whisky, said: “The important work that Josh is doing for individuals with physical reduced mobility through Able Move is game-changing when it comes to exploring the world.

“Despite a difficult year for the travel industry, Josh has shown dedication and perseverance in his quest to make travel more accessible for wheelchair users, and his entrepreneurial spirit has led to an incredible seven new products to be launched this year.

“At Glen Scotia Single Malt Whisky, we are one of just three distilleries remaining from Campbeltown’s whisky heyday, so we know a little about carrying on through challenging times – Josh’s resilience during this global pandemic is striking. By showing that ‘the sky’s no limit’, he is a deserving winner for this month’s Entrepreneurial Spirit award.”