FINAL CALL: Small Biz 100 Winner Hosts ‘Business Beats’ on Thursday, 27th November to Champion Disabled Entrepreneurship on their Dedicated Countdown Day
TOWCESTER, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE – Monday 24 November 2025 – Melody Woman Music, a champion of inclusive live music and events based in Towcester, is set to launch its highly anticipated event, “Business Beats,” this week as part of its celebration for being named one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign.
As the dedicated Small Biz 100 business featured on November 27th in the official countdown to Small Business Saturday, founder Kelly Israel (late-diagnosed neurodivergent entrepreneur with Autism and ADHD) is using this national platform to drive a crucial political conversation, linking local economic growth directly to national disability policy. The honour follows an incredible year for the firm, which was also named Microbusiness of the Year for Northamptonshire at the 2025 NNBN Awards.
Event Highlights: Policy Meets People
The “Business Beats” event, which will take place this Thursday 27th November 2.00 pm – 4.30pm, at Bell Plantation Garden Centre in Towcester, is the strategic meeting point for music, commerce, and policy reform, designed to drive the findings of the Lilac Report into local action.
Confirmed attendees include:
- Keynote Speaker Nick Wilson: The event will feature a keynote speech from Nick Wilson, ‘The Disabled Adventurer,’ former British Army Sergeant and accessibility consultant, who will directly connect his work on accessibility and local tourism to the powerful economic recommendations of the Lilac Report.
- High-Level Political Engagement: The event will welcome crucial local decision-makers, including West Northamptonshire Councillors and representation from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), providing a direct opportunity for dialogue on local support and national policy reform.
- Live Music & Entertainment Showcase: The event features a high-calibre lineup of local, regional and national talent, reinforcing the role of the creative economy in West Northamptonshire.
Performers include:
- Fraser Morgan: A BBC Introducing folk-punk artist who has performed on major stages, including Latitude Festival and MK:IF.
- Beth Merill: A talented keys player, singer-songwriter, and late-diagnosed ADHDer, recognised by BBC Introducing and the Amplify Her initiative.
- Gail Hobot: A respected local guitarist from West Northamptonshire, newly emerging on the scene
- Local Band No 9: Community musicians from Yardley Gobion and Potterspury
- Micro and Small Business Showcase: A diverse range of local micro-businesses and startups will be exhibiting, demonstrating the vitality and economic contribution of the creative and entrepreneurial community as part of the Small Business Saturday countdown. Exhibitors include:
- Welly Commercial Pictures: Local commercial photography.
- Kings Road Fashions: Women’s boutique fashion.
- The Disabled Adventurer: Social enterprise and accessibility consulting.
- Sarah Brason: Grief Navigator and Artist.
- Northampton Family Osteopaths – Louise Greenwood
- Assessing and Tutoring with Sarah – Sarah Wicks
- AT Sports Injury Clinic – April Tarabella
- Valentino 29 Leggings – April Tarabella
- BIPC – Business Support Service
- Mini Mozart – Live Music Classes For Babies and Toddlers
The Mission: Unlocking the £230 Billion Economy
The event’s political thrust is fueled by the need for systemic change. The Lilac Report (published in May 2025 by Small Business Britain) is the first definitive study highlighting the significant economic contribution of disabled entrepreneurs. The report estimates that removing systemic barriers faced by this community could unlock £230 billion in additional UK business revenue. Melody Woman Music and Nick Wilson will champion three core asks, urging West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to become a national leader in adopting the Report’s recommendations:
- Stop the ‘Proof of Disability’ Burden: Advocating for a ‘Trust-Based Approach’ to support, eliminating the administrative and psychological stress of repeated assessments (like those experienced by Kelly Israel with Access to Work) that lead to burnout.
- Become a Leading Local Authority: Encouraging West Northamptonshire Council to adopt the recommendations of the Lilac Report and further support the work of local disabled entrepreneurs by promoting accessibility and developing innovative, place-based support models.
- Boost the Purple Pound Locally: Using the event as proof that investing in inclusive infrastructure immediately boosts local tourism and commerce, making West North Northamptonshire an attractive destination for the £274 billion Purple Pound.
Kelly Israel, Founder of Melody Woman Music, said: “Being named a SmallBiz100 is an immense honour, but our work doesn’t stop with a recognition such as this. We are launching this event this week to prove that inclusion and accessibility are not a nice-to-have—it’s an economic strategy. We have leading voices like Nick Wilson and key political decision-makers in the room, and we will be asking them: How do we fix the system that holds us back and unlock this £230 billion economic opportunity right here in West Northamptonshire?”
The event is free to attend – see you there!
