Ahbid Choudry set up a specialist taxi firm for people with disabilities to stop them suffering from the embarrassment he says he faced growing up.

The Shelton-based businessman has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a wheelchair himself.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Ahbid couldn’t do the things his friends and peers were doing socially because he couldn’t get a taxi to transport him in his wheelchair. There were evenings out at nightclubs like The Place and Valentinos where he simply couldn’t get home.

It was this experience and his dogged determination to make a difference to those in the same boat as himself that led to the creation of CabAbility in 2016.

Starting with just two jobs in the first year of trading the company has grown considerably. Over the past decade it has become a trusted, inclusive transport service employing around 50 staff and serving a wide range of customers who rely on accessible, reliable travel.

Ahbid, who comes from a family of taxi owners, said: “From the beginning the aim was not only to provide wheelchair-accessible taxi services, but to build a company that actively represented and empowered disabled people. That mission remains central today.

“Being a disability proud employer is not a label we use lightly; it reflects a genuine commitment to creating a workplace where disabled employees are valued, supported and given equal opportunity to progress. This includes ensuring that recruitment processes are accessible, that reasonable adjustments are readily available and that staff are supported in ways that allow them to perform at their best without unnecessary barriers.

“The culture of the company is shaped by the belief that lived experience matters. Many of our team members either have personal experience of disability or have worked closely within the accessible transport sector for years. This creates a workforce that understands the importance of dignity, patience and respect when supporting passengers.

“For many customers, especially wheelchair users and individuals with additional mobility needs, transport is not simply about getting from one place to another – it is about independence, confidence and inclusion in everyday life. Our team understands that responsibility deeply.”

All of the company’s drivers are trained in how to strap different wheelchairs in safely and correctly which is essential when some wheelchairs can be as heavy as twenty stone. Drivers also have British Sign Language, autism and seizure training.

Ahbid left school before taking any qualifications and started selling windows before working in sales for Vodafone. He credits this sales background and his own personal experience as the reasons for the company’s success.

CabAbility has entered the Small Business of the Year, Team of the Year and Business in the Community categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and Ahbid Choudry has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category.