MyPlus founder Helen Cooke says she is humbled after receiving a CBE.

Helen Cooke, founder and chief executive of MyPlus, said she felt proud and humbled after being appointed a CBE; MyPlus helps disabled people into work and provides inclusive careers advice to students and employers.

Helen Cooke has been appointed a CBE and said she felt proud and humbled. She founded MyPlus in 2006 to help disabled people find work and to support employers in becoming more inclusive. Cooke uses a wheelchair after a childhood spinal cord injury and described the award as recognition of the importance of widening career opportunities. She began her career at Marks & Spencer in the early 1990s and later worked for Mars in HR and recruitment. Key facts: - Helen Cooke founded MyPlus in 2006 and is its chief executive. - MyPlus works with firms to improve inclusion and offers specialist careers advice to students. - Cooke, who uses a wheelchair following a childhood spinal cord injury, said she was informed of the honour in November before it was publicly revealed last month. - She started at Marks & Spencer on a graduate commercial programme in the early 1990s, then spent around a decade at Mars in HR and recruitment. - Cooke said there was no Disability Discrimination Act when she began her career and that barriers to careers for disabled people have persisted. Summary: The honour recognises long-term work to improve access to employment for disabled people and to prepare employers for a changing student population. Undetermined at this time.