Bola Abisogun, 34, is a quantity surveyor with his own firm, Accessable Advice based in Old Street in London. Accessable Advice offer strategic property solutions in conjunction with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). We caught up with Bola and asked him a few questions…

Your business sounds quite niche. Where did you get the inspiration from?
I have personal experience of dealing with disabilities through extended family members. A trip to the US when I was 29 really blew me away and the business was born upon my return to the UK.

What was it about the States that influenced you?
How they accept the individual. In the US it is generally considered that it is the environment that is disabling, whereas in the UK it’s the individual. The US look at a route, say from A to B, and try and make it as inclusive as possible to all people.

The theory sounds great, but how does it all work in practice?
Well, principally, it is about providing optimum space rather than the bare minimum for both wheelchair and pushchair users for example. More than that, it is about being aware of different types of disability and the various and possible permutations which can be quite extensive. A current client of mine is about to open a wine bar. He is visually impaired himself and as a result is heavily involved in the interior design to ensure that both the colours and textures serve the needs of people with visual impairments.

I understand. So doesn’t all this extra stuff cost more money?
Not at all. The perception from many construction industry clients and facilitators is that pursuit of DDA legislation costs more money, but this doesn’t necessarily mean capital cost.

Can you give me an example?
Sure. I was working as a consultant for a voluntary sector client advising on a community centre where the introduction of an Internet café was being sought. The space they had allocated for it was fairly restrictive and they were worried it would provide problems for wheelchair users.

One solution was to ensure that a couple of the designated work stations including chairs, desks side panelling were movable so that an individual could move their computer to a position that suited them. In practice, that would mean that the overall installation of the Internet café required less chemical fixings within the designated floor area, so we were actually saving them money and offering an inclusive facility!

The community centre seems typical of you and your company; you seem to take pride in where you come from and your environment.
Absolutely. I was born and bred in Hackney and I always wanted to have my own business in the borough. My ambition is to make Hackney the most inclusive borough in London in terms of access for all people, residents and visitors alike.

While you do most of your work in and around London, I hear you’ve done business in Dubai.
Yes, there is a funny story behind that one. I went there on business and curiosity led me to a construction site. I met the owner an established Sheikh businessman who was building a leisure facility for his children… he had about fifteen of them! Two of his youngest children had mobility issues and he was interested to learn about the work I did. We stayed in touch and I got a nominal fee from him for giving him some advice about making his facility more accessible for people with physically challenged requirements.

Family also seems to be important to you, can you tell me about your own?
Well my wife and three kids keep me busy although I’m sure they’d all like to see a bit more of me. Running your own business means that twelve-hour days are typical. Fortunately, the office is only a ten-minute drive from home which is handy getting the boys to and from football training.

How has RICS membership helped your business?
It has been crucial. Clients are inclined to take you seriously once you have acquired full membership and an entitlement to post the letters after your name. I have the RICS logo on my business card, on the sign outside my office… even on my company car. Clients trust the mark and know that you have reached a level of education with demonstrable post-qualification experience.

So what does the future hold for you Bola?
10% of the UK’s population has a permanent form of disability and I think I’m in a unique position to ensure that the needs of these people remain ever important whilst allowing them uninhibited access to conduct their lives as equal citizens with dignity and respect. As long as I can continue to contribute in my own small way, I’ll be more than happy.