Growing up, Amir went through mainstream education and was fortunate to be surrounded by open-minded, creative people. “They instilled in me the mindset that, no matter what challenges we face, we find ways to adapt.”

From a young age, that ethos shaped how Amir approached life – being adaptable, creative, and open-minded. “Sometimes, I joke that I’m the CEO of ‘winging life’ because I’ve always had to think on my feet. Looking back, I realise that this ability to adapt is a skill I carry with me every day.”

Even as a child, Amir didn’t require learning support – he just needed visual support. That distinction made a big difference in how he navigated education. “I went through high school and A-levels but wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. One thing I always knew, though, was my love for sport.”

Amir was passionate about sport from a very young age, trying out different activities, but blind football became a major focus for him.

“Initially, I thought blind people playing football sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. I couldn't imagine how players would know where the ball, teammates, or goal were. But when I actually put on the blindfold and understood the game, I realised it was the first time I was playing on a completely even field – everyone was the same.”

Amir quickly learned that blind football wasn't just a recreational activity – it was played at international, European, world, and even Paralympic levels. That realisation changed everything. In 2019, he was invited to St George’s Park, the hub of English football, to train with senior teams and later that year, he made his debut for England in Japan.

“It was a life-changing moment – stepping onto the pitch, hearing the national anthem, and wearing the Three Lions on my chest. Growing up, I never imagined someone like me could play football, let alone represent my country.”

Since then, Amir has been fortunate to represent England multiple times, playing all over the world. Playing blind football as a job had been an incredible journey, teaching Amir valuable skills: communication, teamwork, listening, independence, problem-solving, and working under pressure at an elite level.

However, blind football in the UK is only semi-professional, so Amir needed something alongside it to support his lifestyle.

The formation of Learn With ESS

Amir studied Business Management with Sports at the University of Salford, followed by a Master’s in Digital Business and was soon introduced to the world of entrepreneurship.

“I saw an opportunity to create a business based on my personal experiences and how society perceives disability,” notes Amir. “Many people assume that someone with a disability must have a low quality of life or need constant help. That wasn’t my reality. In fact, I often say that I live a better life than 99% of fully sighted people. Many people with disabilities lead incredible lives, but societal perceptions don’t always reflect that. I wanted to change those misconceptions.”

Amir had done some sports coaching as a part-time job, and it quickly developed into something bigger. Schools started inviting him to give talks and inspire students. Then, people wanted to experience what it was like to play blind football. Amir realised there was a genuine interest in these topics, yet they weren’t widely discussed. That’s how his business idea was born.

With support of Launch@ Salford, the University of Salford’s purpose-built incubation space designed to support students and graduates through the startup phase of their business journeys, Amir launched Learn with ESS.

Learn with ESS is a disability awareness programme combined with team building and leadership training. It helps people understand life with a disability in a fun, practical, and interactive way. It runs educational sessions on Braille and sign language, sports activities using blindfolds and wheelchairs, and speaking engagements where role models share their experiences of overcoming challenges.

“We started in schools, and people were not only willing to pay for our workshops, but they raved about them. The business grew rapidly. In three years, we have worked with over 24,000 people across 250 schools, colleges, and universities in the UK. Our work has since expanded into the corporate world, partnering with major businesses to improve disability awareness and inclusion,” says Amir.

Addressing challenges in all areas of life

A turning point came when Amir met his mentor, Gavin Astley, Head of Operations at Carrs Pasties. He believed in Amir’s vision and suggested adapting the school programme for his bakery staff. Employees completed tasks in a wheelchair, with a blindfold, or while experiencing simulated hearing impairments and the impact was profound with staff gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by customers with disabilities. But it wasn’t just physical disabilities Amir’s workshops helped with.

“That experience showed me that challenges exist in all areas of life. Everyone faces challenges – bereavement, illness, financial struggles, academic difficulties – but the skills needed to overcome them are universal: empathy, resilience, adaptability, and perspective,” notes Amir.

The success at the bakery led to further opportunities and the company has since expanded into hospitality, working with Hilton hotels, restaurants, cafés, and even prisons, helping with rehabilitation programmes. Amir has even worked with household names such as Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jude Bellingham on campaigns to encourage others with a disability or visual impairment into sports.

“It's incredible to have big names supporting our work, but just as rewarding is working with the young people we impact every day. They will become tomorrow’s doctors, nurses, politicians, lawyers, accountants, and teachers. If they carry forward the ethos of inclusion and kindness, they will help create a more inclusive society for the future.

A little bit of advice

Amir’s biggest takeaway from his success so far is to make sure you’re doing something you enjoy and getting paid for it. That’s the dream!

“Entrepreneurship isn’t a perfect science. I still joke that I can’t even spell the word ‘entrepreneurship’, yet here I am, running a business and doing this full time.

“The truth is you don’t need to have everything figured out. There’s no such thing as a perfect entrepreneur – just great problem solvers.”

Looking to the future

In January 2024, Learn With ESS received charity status. Amir realised that, while it was doing a lot of awareness work, he also wanted to create a direct impact. One great way to give back was to establish a charitable arm alongside the existing work. The foundation now has three trustees, and its core mission is to develop programmes, workshops, and opportunities for young people with disabilities.

“The goal is to provide them with chances I wish I had more of when I was younger because one opportunity changed my life, and I hope to create similar opportunities that can change someone else’s.”

Now, they’re looking to expand further. They already have hotels on their radar and are in discussions about how they can enhance training programmes to create a more inclusive experience for all guests. But hospitality is just one part of it. The travel industry, retail sector, cafés, and restaurants are areas it’s barely scratched the surface of, and Amir is eager to explore those opportunities.

“This journey [so far] has been incredible, and it all started from a simple invitation to try blind football. Now, through Learn with ESS, I am changing perceptions, building inclusive environments, and showing people the true potential of those with disabilities.”

If you’ve read this article and think that your organisation or team could benefit from taking part in a Learn With ESS workshop, then visit learnwithess.com.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe