Background
Zoe Partington is the founder of Partington Associates, a Disability Arts and activism practice grounded in creativity, lived experience, and cultural change. She works with disabled artists, communities, and organisations to shift perceptions of disability: from something to be “fixed” to a powerful creative force shaping workplaces, culture, and public life. Her practice is driven by integrity, authenticity, and the belief that accessibility enriches everyone.
Zoe (pictured while working at Glastonbury) explains,
“If you provide accessibility you open up your business to more customers and in turn it works for everyone.”
Zoe sought support from the Shropshire Growth Hub to strengthen the business foundation behind her creative work. As a self‑employed disabled artist navigating a tough landscape, she wanted to grow sustainably without compromising her values or the lived‑experience expertise at the heart of her practice.
What support did the Shropshire Growth Hub provide?
The Shropshire Growth Hub offered practical, human‑centred guidance at a moment when Zoe needed space to rethink the structure and direction of her business. Their conversations were open, supportive, and rooted in possibility rather than limitation – an approach that made a profound difference to her.
A significant part of this support involved Zoe’s participation in the Aston Business School leadership programme, accessed through the Growth Hub and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Through this programme, she learned new ways of working with technology and AI -skills increasingly essential in today’s creative and consultancy sectors.
Her mentor encouraged her to clarify priorities, reduce overload, and focus on strategic, values‑aligned growth, enabling her to strengthen both the business and creative elements of her practice.
What are the future plans for your business?
Zoe’s future plans are bold, collaborative, and grounded in joy.
She is expanding partnerships with organisations seeking meaningful inclusion and moving beyond box‑ticking approaches. Her work includes access‑led workshops, residencies, training, and cultural projects that elevate disabled leadership and creativity.
She continues to provide accessibility advice for heritage sites and creates audio descriptions of landscapes designed for visually impaired audiences. She has overseen site access for blind visitors at Glastonbury and produces artworks that are showcased nationally at various venues throughout the UK. Her exhibitions have included Liverpool’s Williamson Gallery, and her piece “Decoding Difference” was featured at Somerset House in London during the International Design exhibition.
What impact has the Shropshire Growth Hub had on your business?
The impact of the Growth Hub’s support has been transformative. It has helped Zoe gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of direction. She now has a stronger articulation of her offer and a business structure that aligns with her wellbeing and creative purpose.
One of Zoe’s biggest realisations was to work with greater intention. As she reflects,
“I have done what all disabled people do, I have tired to fit in – ironic I know- coming from someone who should know better. That edge of uniqueness is critical to business.”
This shift has been central to building sustainable workload management and understanding the unique value her perspective brings.
The Growth Hub also helped her reconnect with Shropshire’s cultural sector. Through volunteering with Shropshire Museums, Zoe showcased her full collection of neon signs at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (pictured), a milestone that reconnected her with the place where she first studied art. This led to broader opportunities, including media interviews and further collaborations with partners.
“The fascinating aspect is that the work goes beyond simply being about disability; it ends up being about all of us”.
Zoe Partington, Consultant/Contemporary Artist, Curating a Life Less Ordinary
Co/Director of Dis/Ordinary Architecture
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The Shropshire Growth Hub is the business support arm of Invest in Shropshire at Shropshire Council
It provides information and support for businesses in the Shropshire Local Authority area. It runs an extensive yearly calendar of free events and webinars and offers advice on grants, loans, and assistance for companies of any size or sector, from start-ups to established enterprises.
The main contract funding the work of the Shropshire Growth Hub is the Marches Growth Hub (MGH) core funding through the Department for Business and Trade.
CAN WE HELP YOU? EMAIL US TODAY ON growthhub@shropshire.gov.uk
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