Step Up Ireland

To empower adults with disabilities to become entrepreneurs by providing business supports that are accessible.

STEP UP! are firm believers of inclusion, equality, and empowering individuals to have valued social roles within Irish society and within their communities. We do this by providing a person centered approach which is led by and tailored to the individual so that they can achieve their vision of success.

STEP UP! Was founded in January 2019. It was founded by Eric Lambe. The idea was borne from his direct work in the disability sector in Ireland. He found that many individuals with disabilities have immense passion and skills that are under utilised. While working with one individual to start his own business he was shocked by the barriers that this person experienced. What was most shocking was people’s perceptions of what persons with disabilities are capable of. It was the disappointment and acceptance that this is ‘just the way it is’ that drove him to apply to social entrepreneurs Ireland Academy program. He applied and was accepted to their bootcamp stage. From there he pitched ‘Dragons den’ style for a chance to make STEP UP a possibility. He was selected to attend the Dublin Academy 2019 and has been working hard behind the scenes to make STEP UP a success while continuing to work in the disability sector which he loves.

It is not Eric’s dream that he wants to achieve but the dreams of the countless others out there that are tired of the status quo and want to see real and meaningful person driven change in Ireland.