MBA PhD
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Bold. Beautiful. Black. British.
The UK's Black Enterprise & Experience Magazine
Publisher's
Welcome
Welcome to another issue of Pitch Black magazine, one that we are incredibly excited to bring to you. This is the Windrush 75th Anniversary Special where we remember an incredible group of people who, almost 3 generations ago, landed on these shores from the Caribbean starting with Empire Windrush on the 22nd June 1948. In this issue, we celebrate Dr Carlton Brown, an offspring of the Windrush generation, who is all about ensuring that the children of the Windrush generation are poised to realize our full economic potential. He does this as an academic, an entrepreneur and convener of the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference which aims to empower, engage and educate our entrepreneurs with the tools they need to achieve greater success.
Speaking of events, we recap the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Black Business Association's Media Mixer in March as well as Black Business Recommendation's Excellence Awards in April. Of course, we look forward to the UK Black Business Show in Birmingham in June. Our Exposure section kicks off with celebrating 23 Men worthy of shining our spotlight on. In addition we spotlight 10 Products to buy, 10 Pages to read, 10 Programmes to watch & 10 Places to visit across the UK to mark #Windrush75. We conclude with Our Expressions covering Mindset, Networking, Business Profile, PR & Business Finance. We're excited to bring you this issue and certainly hope you love and enjoy it! If you do, tell a friend to tell a friend. :) Love & Blessings,
Colin & Judy
@PitchBlack.Online
Our Sensational 6 Contributors Herman Allen Herman is an Architectural engineer turned Social & Business Entrepreneur within the property, education and social care sectors. He has been in business for over 20 years and is the CEO of Holibrook House & Hopewell School. Connect with Herman @ herman.allen@holibrookhouse.co.uk
Huw & Lorraine Bellot In 2017 fed up with the lack of visibility for Black owned businesses they created Black Business Recommendation a business-centred Facebook group with 25 members. By January 2021, with almost 11,000 members, the group became a registered business. Connect with Huw & Lorraine @ www.blackbusinessrecommendation.com
Nicola Millington Nicola Millington is a PR professional with over 20 years PR experience. She is also the founder of the award-winning FP Comms - a boutique public relations agency that works with ambitious and socially aware businesses, and entrepreneurs. Connect with Nicola and her team @www.linktr.ee/fpcomms
Cheryl Nankoo Cheryl is an experienced Sales Consultant and Executive Coach with over 17 years business experience. As a Certified NLP Master Practitioner, she has coached and mentored people from all walks of life including senior executives, board members, elite athletes and is qualified as an mBIT (multiple brain integration techniques) coach. Connect @ www.thenankoo.com
Andrea L Richards Andrea is an award winning experienced accountant helping entrepreneurs, e-commerce business, entertainers & property investors to maximise profit and minimise tax. She is a speaker and author and provides Management Accounts, VAT, Payroll and Bookkeeping services. Connect @ www.accountsnavigator.com
This issue's Contents Our Experience Cover Story Check out the story of Dr Carlton Brown, an academic, an entrepreneur and the host of a conference event that is aspiring for more for us. As always, check out the full interview on our YouTube Channel.
Pitch Black On the Scene We cover a number of events that we've been to, that we should have been to and that we're looking forward to going to. Of course, this being the Windrush 75th anniversary special, we shine a light on the Windrush 75, a number of events across the UK to mark this special event.
Our Exposure Spotlighting 23 Men To mark Father's Day 2023. Spotlighting 10 Products For the special men in your life. Spotlighting 10 Pages Chronicling their Windrush experiences. Spotlighting 10 Programmes & Places Let's get out there & celebrate Windrush 75.
Our Experience Mindset Cheryl Nankoo shares 6 Phrases to get rid of to get your mind right. Networking BBR founders Huw & Lorraine Bellot highlight their passion for Black businesses. Business Profile Herman Allen tells us about how he turned a Social Need into a Commercial Success. PR Nicola Millington outlines 4 Tips for Effective PR. Finance Andrea L Richards instruct us about 6 Successful Cashflow Secrets.
COVER STORY
MBA PhD
Publisher Colin Tomlin colin@experiencegrowth.online Growth Resource Director Judy Lynch-Tomlin judy@experiencegrowth.online Artistic Director Reuben Tomlin reuben@experiencegrowth.online Project Manager Keshia Spencer keshia@pitchblackmagazine.com
Bold. Beautiful. Black. British.
Partnerships partnerships@experiencegrowth.online Design eg Design design@experiencegrowth.online Advertising advertising@experiencegrowth.online Photography & Images Reuben Tomlin Simon Sadek Photography Canva Instagram Facebook Twitter Publisher experience growth Online Ltd Norwich NR8 6HA Terms & Conditions All materials are strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No part of this online publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the expressed permission of experience growth Online Ltd. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage of any material, solicited or unsolicited. The views expressed in this publication may are not those of the publisher or those of the advertiser. No cash alternative will be offered for Competitions and the publishers decision is final.
The UK's Black Enterprise & Experience Magazine
The UK’s Black Enterprise & Experience Magazine
@PitchBlack.Online
Event Date Thursday, 22 June @ UK wide
colonies to rebuild the economy The journey from British after the ravages of World War II. from 1948 to the early 1970’s the over there to here. So, people of the Caribbean and other On the 22 June 1948, HMS Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury from the Caribbean with over 1000 passengers, some 800 of whom were from the islands of the Caribbean. It was the start of a wave of immigration from the Caribbean who were responding to a call from the British government to the
colonies provided a steady supply of labour to rebuild the country and in doing so have made a tangible historic contribution to the economy and the culture of the United Kingdom. We continue to celebrate and build upon the journey from there to here.
Windrush Day, celebrated on the 22nd June each year has become a key symbolic moment of celebrating Black British contribution to the UK. Anchored by Dr Patrick Vernon OBE, Social Commentator, Campaigner and Cultural Historian, it aims to provide an opportunity “to deepen the
Dr Patrick Vernon OBE, Campaigner & Cultural Historian
public conversation about the past present and future of modern Britain.” It was Patrick himself who led the campaign that saw the inception of Windrush Day in 2018, the 70th anniversary. At the launch of The Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station, on the
22nd June 2018, the then Communities Minister Lord Bourne, outlined the purpose of Windrush Day as one to encourage “communities across the country to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.” He went on to say that, “A Windrush Day will
allow communities up and down the country to recognise and honour the enormous contribution of those who stepped ashore at Tilbury Docks 70 years ago.” Check out the plethora of events that are available across the country, by visiting the Windrush 75 Network website @ windrush75.org
Event Date Wednesday, 22 March in London
New feature for July conference.
Event attendees networking and enjoying tasty Caribbean food
Event Host Dr Carlton Brown (2nd from right) with (from L-R) Richard Burge, CEO of The London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Elizabeth Ola from TRU SKN and Lord Hastings, Chair of LCCI’s Black Business Association (BBA)
Elizabeth Ola from TRU SKN sharing her vision and journey
The media launch of the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference (BBEC) on the 22nd March 2023 at the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry saw the introduction of a new practical feature to the July event. In addition to great speakers like Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Eric Collins & David Olusoga and a women's empowerment segment,
there will be a number of opportunities to pitch to buyers from some of the UK's biggest retail entities like Tesco, Selfridges and Cotswold Fayre. Fittingly, there will also be opportunities join Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones' buyers from The Hatchery, his incubator programme as well as Wakuda, an online marketplace by exceptional African and Caribbean brands.
NCLF's revised manifesto for action. Event Date Saturday, 20 May in London
On the 20th May 2023 in London the National Church Leader Forum (NCLF) launches a revised manifesto calling on Black Church Leaders and Government to be more active in developing policy. Following a launch in 2015, the new manifesto seeks to engage Government to recognise the vital role Black Church leaders play in our
communities and the potential to help shape policies that can create a better future for all. “We believe that the church have a unique perspective on issues that affect their communities” says, Chair of NCLF, Ade Omooba MBE. “They are on the front lines of many of these issues, whether those are related to
crime, education, health or the economy as they affect the Black communities.” One of the eleven areas of focus is Economic Development with a focus on four key areas; Financial exclusion, Wealth creation and asset building, Entrepreneurship & Support for Black Enterprises. Get it @ www.nclf.org.uk
Event Date Saturday, 15 April in London
BBR Dinner & Dance Event Awards Excellence and the winner of £10,000 Business Development Loan. Event hosts, Huw & Lorraine Bellot from Black Business Recommendation
Announcing the £10K Business Loan Winner
UK Soul Legends Loose Ends getting the crowd dancing
UK Soul Sensation Omar getting into his groove
Another UK Soul Sensation, Hil St Soul shines
Saturday the 15th April saw the Black Business Recommendation's Excellence Awards at the Saray Banqueting Suite in North London. Huw and Lorraine Bellot hosted an exceptional evening of fine food, mood enhancing music and excellence awards for a variety of people within our business community.
Lorraine & Huw with event compere, the one and only Calvin Francis
Mark Dalgety from Dalgety UK enjoying the event with his team and friends
Colin, Nicola Millen & Asari St Hill sharing a moment
Tosin Bankole
Toyin Davidson-Ero
One of the highlights of the night was the announcing of the first Business Development Loan of £10,000 winner.
Nicola Millington
Daryl Harper
Andrea L Richards
A Table sharing an after dinner moment.
Well done to Tosin Bankole from IDID3D Ltd, a 3D printing company, who won this year's award. Get more @ www.blackbusinessrecommendation.com/bbr-awards
BBR EXCELLENCE AWARD Black Business Recommendation celebrated The inaugural Business Excellence Award 2023. Businesses were showcased and recognised with awards and certificates. Be ready for the Business Excellence Award 2024.
S W E I V R E T N I R U O L L A H C T A W TO
D N A M E D ON VICES E D R U O Y L L A N O
The #PitchBlac kUNBoxing Show
@PitchBlack.Online
COVER STORY
MBA PhD
D
r Carlton Brown is a unique individual.
He is an academic, an entrepreneur and the host of the annual UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference. As author of The Black Entrepreneur Report 2021, he put his academic expertise to use by looking at the facts and shedding light on the challenges faced by Britain's Black business community. Having delivered profitable growth for over 20 years, underpinned with over 25 years’ in selling and sales management in FTSE100 companies, Carlton is well placed to champion this cause, doing so by bringing a pragmatic, diligent and an engaging approach. However, its not all theory and corporate as he is also an entrepreneur who, along with his wife, Marvely, runs a successful business in the luxury food space. That extensive experience comes with the academic underpinning of an MBA and a PhD in Business which means he can understand, diagnose, prescribe and assess solutions to deliver more for us.
Tell us a little bit about your background. Who is Dr Carlton Brown? And what's his journey to now? When I left college, first and foremost, I wanted to be a lawyer or a social worker. Those were my initial aspirations. My father is originally from Jamaica and he wanted me to go and get a trade. I said to my mother, "I don't want to get a trade, I wanted to do something entirely different, to become a lawyer or a social worker." But neither of those things happened, and when I left college, I started to do politics. I was doing my Politics and English A level and thought, "I don't want to do this." So I went and got a job as a training manager in retail and I got a car. And I thought, life is really good and for about 5 years I became a trainee manager and eventually became a manager in retail. After a period of time, I felt, that there was more to life than just doing what I was doing. I enjoyed it and I earned a lot of money. It was good, it was fun and I had a good social life. But in reality it wasn't what I what I wanted.
I met my wife in in 1988 and I was looking to to do something different. She was in London and they had the Evening Standard on the Thursday evening with the job sections. I wanted to get into sales and marketing. And she said there's a job here. And she helped me to do my CV. (I still have my CV for this job). I got this job working for Rentokil, which was a large corporate doing sales and
marketing and it turned out that this job actually was career defining for me and I ended up staying there for 16 years and I worked my way through from the sales and marketing right through to becoming a regional director for the South of England and Northern Ireland. Then I got headhunted to work for another corporate and ended up being a national sales and marketing director for The Davis Group.
I said to my mother, "I don't want to get a trade, I wanted to do something entirely different, to become a lawyer or a social worker."
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Brown Dr Carlton
And then with your studies, your MBA and your PhD, were you studying for those while you were in those roles?
this point, I'm just thinking why is it that I'm not getting promoted within the organization. Especially since at this point I was outperforming quite a lot of my contemporaries.
Well, we talk about this glass ceiling stuff where you think that you're in a career and things are not really happening for you and you question why. I wondered if it was because I stopped doing my A levels, because I wasn't thinking of anything nefarious at
But yet still things weren't necessarily happening. So, I thought maybe I need to go back and study again. So I went back and did a post graduate Level 7 which is equivalent to a Masters degree in Leadership. Then after that I went on to do an MBA in Business.
So, what happened next? OK, so I thought, "What am I going to do now?" I'm doing 50,000 miles a year, I had a young family at the time and travelling up and down the UK, in Manchester, Wales, Basingstoke, London, the Midlands. Norfolk, At that point, I said to myself, "Well, what am I going to do differently?" Now, my wife had already opened up a wedding shop in Romford, and then we subsequently opened up a second wedding shop in South Woodford. So, at this stage we had two wedding shops. My wife, she's the real entrepreneur. She was out there doing stuff and I just went in on weekends to help. Our second shop was in three storey building and I thought, let me just go in there for a while and just kind reflect what to do. At that stage, I hadn't done my PhD but I was helping out in the shop and I was doing some consultancy work and my first client was the Davis Group. They became my very first client again, so I was operating part between doing some consultancy work and then operating out of the shop. Then my old finance director, who I worked with at Rentokil, contacted me and reminded me that we had spoken years ago about
There were Blues parties in my house when my Mum's serving curry goat and rice and peas. Selling beers. That was who Mama Brown was. starting our own washroom business. So, we did. We did things such as sanitary bins, hand dryers, air fresheners, nappy units. It wasn't considered a sexy business, but actually it was a very good business. And so from the third floor of our wedding shop, we grew the business to a few digits and we ended up selling it. We had about 12 staff and our single biggest client was the Canary Wharf Estate. And I thought, let's go back and do my PhD because I'm going to go back full time now and back into consultancy at this stage. So when I'm pitching to a client I can say, well, I've got 20 odd years of corporate experience, with profit and loss responsibility having £25 million revenue with 300 members of the staff I'm also quite academically robust. So that was the rationale for me going back into academia.
Was there an ambition for business before all of that or did it just journey its way along? I think I've been surrounded by entrepreneurs and my mother, (bless her soul, rest in peace) she was a real matriarch. My mum's from Linstead in Jamaica and they didn't really go to the coast, so she would organize trips even then, they'd go to Montego Bay & Ocho Rios and she would sew clothes and sell. And then when she when she came to the UK. She was the the person that did the pardner. She did the coach trips to Skegness, Blackpool, Barry Island, Littlehampton all of those places. She was the one who did the dances. She got the steel bands on stage and she got a sound system. You know Jimmy Cliff, you name it. That was in our house. There were Blues party in my house when my mum's serving curry goat and rice and peas. Selling beers. That was who Mama Brown was.
You've got all of these skills and you're now sharing it to support primarily, business and entrepreneurs, but really looking at diversity issues. Tell us a little bit more about that.
We had lack of mentorship. We had lack of social capital; that is a lack of access to people, resources and opportunities. So there were lots of systemic and structural things that were not happening to us specifically. as it happens to other communities.
Here I was in 2017. I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a consultant and I'm a part-time academic. And I'm always curious and I have that curiosity and the academic side wants to know what's going on here.
But when we started to drill down and get underneath, Black and African Caribbean diaspora (BACD) were the most affected, so there were so many disparities in wealth creation. Similarly, even when we finish university, we were 25% more likely to earn less than our counterparts who have just completed their same degrees. Only 36% of Black people, African Caribbean diaspora owned properties in the UK. So, if you look at education, you think about poverty, you think about health outcomes, there are so many structural and systemic issues going on within our community and I was just fascinated, particularly about entrepreneurship. I think if we need to get out of that particular situation, we have to do something differently for ourselves. How do we do that? I think access to the supply chain is one of those areas in which we can do that.
So, in 2017 I wrote a chapter in a book about corporate social responsibility and diversity within the supply chain and I'm looking at the overall cultural issues that were going on around diversity, but then we had the lockdown, and I got more into it. What was going on with Black entrepreneurs? The data was indicating that if we want to grow our business, we need funding. We were the least likely to get access to funding. In that case access to finance was an issue.
How do we do that? I think access to the supply chain is one of those areas in which we can do that.
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Just go drill down into that and explain the opportunity for us and why accessing the supply chain is so important? So if you think about it this way. Dr Glenn Laman, who wrote a book called, ‘Jamaican Entrepreneurship, said that there are two reasons why people go into business or become entrepreneurs. One is about out of necessity and one is about opportunity. And I think when we think of ourselves. As a culture, as a community, often we don't have the opportunity. So, we do things out of necessity, because we have to. We have to make things happen. And we are innovative. And what I also discovered in the research was that Black and African Caribbean people are 8% more likely to be more innovative than other counterparts and other ethnicities.
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Brown Dr Carlton
So, if you think about business and entrepreneurship, it's about innovation. It's about solving problems. And if you've got a group of people that are innovative and creative, you know they're going to solve problems for you, they’re going to come up with new ideas, ideas you may not be accustomed to. Therefore, entrepreneurship is a key thing for us. It's about getting access to those opportunities. With that in mind, I looked at the disparities in access to opportunities. The public sector spends about £2.9 billion per annum in procurement. Within the SME markets (small medium enterprises), ethnic minorities represent 16% of the market. But yet still only less than 1% of the expenditure from that 2.9 billion goes to ethnic minority businesses. So that's why we think it's really important that we look at the supply chain and how we get access to those supply chains.
And that's exactly what you're doing on the 13th of July - hosting the Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference in London. What can we expect? Well, first of all, it's just coming together of our community and that's really important and having that opportunity to network. But equally important is sharing success stories because often we learn from what we see vicariously.
Secondly, we have great speakers talking about entrepreneurship, so people like Lord Michael Hastings will be one of the speakers. Eric Collins will be one of the speakers this year, as he was last year.
It's all well and good as talking about Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and all of those individuals, but they're very successful entrepreneurs in this country, which are Black, African, Caribbean, so let's celebrate them and let them share their stories with us. So you'll hear stories which are often untold.
We also want to understand our history in terms of entrepreneurship. As Marcus Garvey once said, “A man who doesn't know his history is like a tree without roots.” So, we also have David Olusoga, who will be talking about the history of Black entrepreneurship in the UK,
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I think about my mother-in-law. They were matriarchs, they were entrepreneurial. There are lots of female journeys to be told.
We also have a women empowerment room, because if you're an entrepreneur, you're more likely to be female. In our study, The Black Entrepreneur Report, 58% of our cohorts were female. When the Federation of Small Business did their study on entrepreneurship, they recognized it was 52%. So, females are really important and integral because they very much lead the way on entrepreneurship, and we have sessions on Women Empowerment. When I go back and think about my mother, I think about my wife, they're all entrepreneurs.
And our third room we have what we’re calling Pitch for Success. The whole thrust, is to give us access to opportunities. So, Tesco's will be there, a buyer from Selfridges, a buyer from a UK wholesaler called Cotswold Fayre, The Black Farmer, in his capacity as The Hatchery and we also have Wakuda, which is a black online Amazon platform in the UK. So people will have the opportunity to pitch for real life opportunities. That's really, really important for us to be able to say, "Here are real life opportunities."
from the team @
Jay Blades MBE
Kayne Kawasaki
TV Presenter, Producer & Philanthropist
Cultural Theorist & UK Black History Educator
Due to dyslexia, Jay left school with no qualifications. Thankfully, this hasn't stopped him from being one of the nation's favourite presenters on BBC's The Repair Shop.
Kayne began his career teaching in Secondary Schools in South London and then shifted the focus of his teaching skills towards UK black history and started creating content on Tiktok.
Jay is the antithesis of the throwaway culture that surrounds us, His belief is that the old can become new, the worn can shine again, and the broken can be fixed. This belief guides not just how he deals with furniture, but more importantly, how he deals with people.
Within a year, Kayne has amassed over 900k video views collectively, has a TEDx Talk under his belt and has consulted for English Heritage, Notting Hill Carnival and Tiktok (featuring on their nationwide 2021 BHM Billboard campaign) to name a few. Along the way he has quickly become one of the go-to-voices for factual, historical and statistical inform regarding race relations.
Michael Eboda
Jason Arday
CEO of Powerful Media & Publisher of The Powerlist
Professor of Sociology of Education, Cambridge University
If you have read a copy of the Powerlist, an annual list of the most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the UK, you have Michael to thank for that.
Diagnosed with global development delay and autism spectrum disorder, Jason was reputed to not learn to speak until he was 11 and was unable to read or write until the age of 18.
Before starting Powerful Media, he was the Editorial Director of the Ethnic Media Group which, at one time published New Nation, a weekly newspaper published for the UK's Black community. Michael is also the host of the Powerlist Black Excellence Awards Dinner, a black tie event to launch the publication and to recognise people who have showcased excellence in their field of endeavor over a number of years.
His family were informed that he would require Remarkably, despite that, he become the youngest Black professor ever appointed at the University of Cambridge only 20 years after learning to read. Arday will join become only the 6th Black professors at Cambridge and one of only 160 of the U.K.'s nearly 23,000 professors, representing less than 1%. This is a statistic he is aiming to change.
Lord Simon Woolley Politician, Activist & Principal In 1996 Simon founded Operation Black Vote (OBV) to address the Black British and ethnic minority deficit in British politics. 27 years later, is cross-party and crosssector work with Operation Black Vote has seen the number of MPs from black and minority ethnic backgrounds rise from 4 to over 60 during that time. He was knighted by the Queen in 2019 and made a life peer in that same year.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE
Farmer, Founder of The Black Farmer & Author Born in Jamaica and arriving in the UK as part of the Windrush generation, Wilfred, ended up working for the BBC in food production, where he really excelled, giving the likes of Gordon Ramsey and James Martin their big break in television. He then left TV to launch the hugely successful The Black Farmer brand and campaigns against the underrepresentation of black people in the food industry.
Ije Nwokorie
Senior Director, Apple & Independent Non-Executive Director, Dr Martens plc + other Board Memberships Born in Pennsylvania, USA and raised in rural Nigeria, Ije credits this as this for his creative outlook and affinity for wonder. He studied Architecture at Columbia University which was followed by a career spanning online gaming, service design and then branding. Prior to his role at Apple, he was the CEO of Brand consultancy Wolf Olins for 11 years, with responsibility for offices in London, The USA and Dubai. These days he can be found in London, overseeing the Today at Apple programme educating and inspiring communities served by Apple.
Mike White Senior Pastor, The Tab Church Mike White serves as The Senior Pastor of The Tab Church a thriving, trans generational and multicultural church in Lewisham, London. In addition to leading The Tab Church Mike White’s Itinerary has seen him featuring as a host and guest speaker in Christian media in both the UK & the USA. Mike also speaks as a guest in both conferences and churches throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, USA and The Caribbean. He regularly consults and local and national church organizations in the UK on Contemporary Leadership and Visionary Transition.
Tevin Tobun CEO of Gate Ventures Group & Social Enterprise Board Member After university, Tevin launched a design and build business. After a few years, he founded another division of the business, a food transport and logistic business aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing emission. Since then, the group grown into one of the UK’s leading independently owned transport and logistics companies, employing over 500 people, with a global footprint in the UK, South America and Africa, delivering over 24 million goods valued over £300 million in value.
David McQueen International Speaker, Executive Coach & Angel Investor
With a significant following on Linked In David is a man on a mission to help individuals to be the best leaders of themselves, their teams and their organizations. From starting his his speaking in churches and youth groups, via standup comedy and singing he also authentically connects away from the stage and the boardroom by making an impact through entrepreneurship, founding, investing in and mentoring other entrepreneurs.
Marvin Rees
CEO of Powerful Media & Publisher of The Powerlist Brought up in Bristol Marvin was the first Black person to be elected mayor of a major European city in 2016. After starting his working life with international development agency, Tearfund, he went on to work for a social justice organisation and a presidential adviser in the USA. His entry into politics came after graduating from Operation Black Vote's & The Labour Party's Future Candidates programmes. In 2021, he was re elected for another 4 year term as mayor after delivering 9,000 homes and quality work experiences for over 3,500 children.
Gavin Lewis
Managing Director, BlackRock & Author of The Opportunity Index Gavin is an inspiration for what can be achieved when the right mindset meets the right opportunities. He grew up in Tottenham in circumstances a far cry from his current one. As a senior leader financial services, Gavin is an advocate of looking beyond the symptoms of racial inequality; poorer mental and physical health, higher crime and unemployment rates, and addressing the root cause, the racial wealth gap that exists within our society
Dean Forbes CEO of Forterro
Over a 20-year career, Forbes has moved from being a junior sales executive in a call centre to becoming one of the UK's top technology business leaders delivering over £2 billion in exit transactions. His most recent magic touch was presiding over the sale of Forterro for 1 billion euros, making him one of the few CEO's in Europe to have achieved such value. Forbes founded the Forbes Family Group (FFG), a not for profit foundation where he serves as chairman and actively coaches and mentors leaders within the firm’s investment portfolio. This is a far cry from being twice homeless and a carer for his disabled mother as a teenager.
Reece Wabara
Founder & CEO of Manière De Voir Reece signed for Manchester City Academy and went on to captain the Under-16s side. This was no great surprise to many as his uncle and grandfather were both professional footballers. In 2011, he signed a 3 year deal worth an estimated £1 million. However, at the end of that deal, in 2014, he left Manchester City by mutual consent. A year before he left, he had launched a clothing brand which he took to an 8 figure sum without outside capital. He recently appear in the Sunday Times Rich List.
Tim Campbell MBE Businessman & TV Presenter
Tim is best known as the winner of the first season of the UK Apprentice in 2005 and was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to Enterprise Culture. After working for Lord Sugar at Amstrad and launching the Health & Beauty Division. Tim has gone on to found The Bright Ideas Trust, a social enterprise incubator, as well as SuperVillian Studios, a video game development company and Marketing Runners, a digital marketing company. Last year Tim returned to The Apprentice as an advisor to Lord Sugar, knowing only too well the thoughts, emotions and experience on the other side of the table.
Ric Lewis Executive Chairman & Chief Investment Officer at Tristan Capital Partners, Founder Black Heart Foundation & Independent Non-Executive Director, Legal & General For more than 25 years, Ric has been in investment management and moved from the USA to the UK in 1998. Since then he has built Tristan Capital Partners into the largest Black owned business in the UK with £14 billion under management. His work through the Black Heart Foundation has resulted in over 550 scholarships at over 130 learning institutions across the UK & USA.
Tunji Akintokun MBE
Senior Director, Head of Marketing Solutions, UK & Ireland, Non-Executive Director, England Athletics As a multi-award-winning leader in technology and business, Tunji has had an extensive career working for blue-chip global organisations like PwC & Cisco, leading teams across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia helping clients leverage the benefits of technology within their organisations. His current role as a Senior Director at LinkedIn, leading the Marketing Solutions business, involves creating economic growth for organisations by helping them reach, engage and convert their audiences at scale.
Andrian Joseph OBE
Chief Data & AI Officer, BT Group Adrian's current role at BT follows a long and illustrious senior level career at some of the most recognized companies from Ford to Google to EY with stints TrafficMaster and the UK Government to boot. He currently leads a team of over 1,100 people aiming to safely unlock the immense value of data & AI across the BT Group. In addition, he is an Expert Member of the UK AI council that advises the UK Government on the National AI Strategy.
Lord Dr Michael Hastings Independent Peer, Professor of Leadership, Chair of LCCI Black Business Association & SOAS University of London, VP Unicef Michael began his career as a teacher and then moved into government service, supporting policy initiatives to bring racial equality through employment and development to the UK's inner cities. To that end, he has worked across, the public, private and not-for-profit sectors within education, justice, philanthropy, TV and commercial businesses to support and develop communities across the globe. Having turned down a number of approaches for life peerage by political parties he opted instead to be an Independent Peer in the House of Lords. Prior to that he had been awarded a CBE for services to crime reduction.
Segun Osuntokun Managing Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner & Head, Civil Fraud Litigation and Africa Group
With 29 years of litigation and arbitration experience and expertise across a range of sectors, including the banking, financial services and energy sectors, Segun is the Head of the firm’s Civil Fraud Litigation practice and specialises in resolving complex disputes and claims which have elements of dishonesty, fraud or corruption. He has applied for or defended applications for emergency injunctions and disclosure orders to support fraud claims on numerous occasions.
Femi Oguns MBE
CEO of Identity Agency Group & Identity School of Acting If you have recently watched The Black Panther films, like millions of people across the globe, and loved the character Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, you have Femi to thank for that. After studying for a joint honours degree in Race and Culture and Performing Arts, his personal experience led him to create a drama school that would give actors of all ethnicities the platform to express themselves to the fullest. Since then, in addition to Letitia, John Boyega and Malachi Kirby are just some of the names that have touched by his vision, resulting in a MBE in 2014.
Rob Pierre
Co-founder & CEO of Jellyfish With a global team of over 2,000 people in over 40 offices globally, Rob knows a thing or two about growing an award winning business, featured in the Sunday Times International Track 200 & The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. He is a great example of turning a disappointment into an opportunity. After lining up a big job after A levels at IBM he didn't get the grades but bounced back by joining The Sunglass Hut and 7 years later was heading up operations in Europe after taking the store to the number 1 sales spot out of 2200 stores globally.
Tunde Olanweraju
Managing Partner, UK, Ireland & Israel, McKinsey & Company Tunde holds a first-class master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Imperial College London, where he was a Lucent Global Science Scholars Program scholar. He was previously the firm’s Global Chief Technology and Platform Officer, overseeing client and colleague-facing technology assets across the world including ensuring their cyber and operational resilience. He is a leader of the McKinsey Black Network—a global community of colleagues and alumni committed to creating an environment where Black colleagues can advance, connect, and grow. Outside of McKinsey, he is a trustee of Oxfam, and a board member of Innovate UK, the UK's commercial innovation agency, part of UK Research & Innovation.
from the team @
Mini Skincare and Haircare Gift Set
Dope Black Dad T-Shirt
Who Muluku Cosmetics
Who Afro Faith Store
What? A perfect mini Gift set for Him/Her which comes in a box containing 3 products. Our Skin Food Formula, which leaves the skin nourished with a smooth softening finish. Hair Food Formula: a naturally crafted powerhouse of hair food that is a plant-based hair pomade, containing a unique blend of nutritious plant-based oils and butters.
What? This t-shirt is everything you’ve dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It’s comfortable and flattering for all.
How much? £22.00 Instagram: @muluku_cosmetics Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /mini-gift-set
How much? £25.00 Instagram: @afrofaith_store/ Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /dope-black-dad-t-shirt
Personalised 12 Piece Watch Box
African Print Scarf – Blue
Who Kustomyzed
Who Bukis
What? More watches than he can count? – Then this is the gift for him! This luxury watch box is a fantastic way to organise and display his most precious accessories. With space for up to 12 watches, he has plenty of room.
What? Soft, warm, and cosy African print scarf made with 100% cotton African print fabric on the outside and light cotton sweatshirt on the inside.
How much? £50.00
Instagram: bukis.apc
Instagram: @kustomyzed
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /african-print-scarf-blue/
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /personalised-12-piece-watch-box
How much? £15.00
Love Thyself Mug Who Ibere Apparel What? This mug is made from high quality ceramic and is microwave safe. This is also a perfect gift for your family or friends. How much? £12.00 Instagram: @ibereapparel Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /love-thyself-mug
African Print Star Adult Unisex Hoodie Who By Kala x What? This comfy and stylish hooded sweater with a star applique is the perfect way to help keep the chill away. How much? £35.00 Instagram: @bykalax Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /african-print-star-adult-unisexhoodie
A3 Handmade Art Print – Afro Side Profile Who Handmade by Shola
Hydrate & Glow – Vitamin ACE Full Set Who Sens8ate
How much? £70.00
What? The vitamin A, C and E infused collection contains powerful hydrating and rejuvenating benefits. These vitamins are effective antioxidants that are known to boost collagen production, shielding the skin from damaging free radicals, improving elasticity and promoting overall skin health.
Instagram: @handmadebyshola
How much? £99.00
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /a3-handmade-afro-side-profile
Instagram: @sens8ate
What? This elegant A3 Handmade Art Print portrays the beauty and strength of Black people. This is perfect as home decor or as a housewarming gift.
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /hydrate-glow-vitamin-ace-full-set
Kwame Reversible Bucket Hat
Intense Moisturising Body Cream
Who FLO London
Who Darkkins Skincare
What? New for the summer, the FLO London unisex reversible bucket hat is made from Ahwenepa Nkasa fabric. This cool 90’s statement hat is reversible for two catchy looks in one and can be rocked all year round.
What? A rich, clean and cruelty-free velvety luxurious cream that intensely moisturises, soothes and help strengthen the skin’s barrier function for healthy looking and more resilient skin.
How much? £75.00
How much? £34.99
Instagram: @flolondon_
Instagram: @darkkinskin
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /kwabena-reversible-bucket-hat
Where 2 buy? https://www.wakuda.co.uk/product /darkkins-intense-moisturisingbody-cream
We’re a marketplace to discover and shop for cultural gifts and lifestyle products from talented Black creators. Products range from Candles to hand made jewellery and greeting cards that you won’t find on the high street.
Browse more @ www.wakuda.co.uk
Nathaniel & Albert, Wakuda Founders
from the team @
Amelia Gentleman's expose of the Windrush scandal shocked the nation and revealed how the government's 'hostile environment' immigration policy had led to thousands of law-abiding people being wrongly classified as illegal immigrants, with many being removed from the country, and many more losing their homes and their jobs. In The Windrush Betrayal, Gentleman tells the full story of her investigation for the first time. Her writing shines a light on the people directly affected by the scandal and illustrates the devastating effect of politicians becoming so disconnected from the world outside Westminster that they become oblivious to the impact of their policy decisions. This is a vitally important account that exposes deeply disturbing truths about modern Britain.
In Jeopardy, award-winning entrepreneur Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones argues that our natural instinct for caution is one of the greatest barriers to making progress in life, and shows how embracing jeopardy is essential if you want to succeed. Drawing on a life that has taken him from a deprived childhood in inner-city Birmingham to becoming one of the nation's most famous farmers, he demonstrates how we can all go further in life by learning to escape the fears that stop us from achieving our ambitions. Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is no stranger to jeopardy: he remortgaged his house in 2005 to launch his brand 'The Black Farmer' from nothing. Its products are now stocked in all major supermarkets and the business has an annual turnover of £millions.
On a misty Monday on the 21st June 1948, Empire Windrush sailed up the Thames and anchored at Tilbury Dock, London. There were a total of 1027 passengers on board with 802 passengers from British Colonies in the West Indies. Of these individuals, 539 were from Jamaica.
It's 1954 and, in Barbados, Ruby Haynes spots an advertisement for young women to train as nurses for the new National Health Service in Great Britain. Her sister, Connie, takes some persuading, but soon the sisters are on their way to a new country - and a whole new world of experiences.
The infamous images of the passengers walking down the gangplank the next morning would be the moment the Windrush Generation was born. A Circle of Five reflects on the stories of the three hundred thousand or so making the same journey between 1948 and 1971 by showcasing the voices of five Jamaican women, Evelyn, Emma, Irene, Ivy, and Melissa. Each woman tells their own story, all beginning in early 1930's rural Jamaica and spanning some eighty years.
As they start their training in Hertfordshire, they discover England isn't quite the promised land; for every door that's opened to them, the sisters find many slammed in their faces. And though the girls find friendships with their fellow nurses, Connie struggles with being so far from home, and keeping secret the daughter she has left behind in search of a better life for the both of them...
Through these women, the experiences of the Windrush Generation come alive.
Inspired by real life stories of the Windrush Generation and her mother's own experiences as a nurse coming to Britain from the Caribbean.
'A remarkable oral history of black postwar British life... Homecoming is an extraordinary and compelling book' Daily Telegraph Homecoming draws on over a hundred first-hand interviews, archival recordings and memoirs by the women and men who came to Britain from the West Indies between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. In their own words, we witness the transition from the optimism of the first post-war arrivals to the race riots of the late 1950s. We hear from nurses in Manchester; bus drivers in Bristol; seamstresses in Birmingham; teachers in Croydon; dockers in Cardiff; inter-racial lovers in High Wycombe, and Carnival Queens in Leeds. These are stories of hope and regret, of triumphs and challenges, brimming with humour, anger and wisdom. Together, they reveal a rich tapestry of Caribbean British lives.
In this heart-stopping adventure, Benjamin Zephaniah shows us what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation. Leonard is shocked when he arrives with his mother in the port of Southampton. His father is a stranger to him, it's cold and even the Jamaican food doesn't taste the same as it did back home in Maroon Town. But his parents have brought him here to try to make a better life, so Leonard does his best not to complain, to make new friends, to do well at school - even when people hurt him with their words and with their fists. How can a boy so far from home learn to enjoy his new life when so many things count against him? 'Zephaniah pulls no punches in his depictions of the racism that Leonard suffers both at school and in the streets in a powerful, moving account of family and fitting in' i News
From the mother of a family of successful British creatives – Endless Fortune examines the experience of the African diaspora and the complications around immigration from a personal perspective.
The rediscovered classic: an unforgettable memoir by a trailblazing black woman in post-war London, introduced by Bernardine Evaristo ('I dare anyone to read it and not come away shocked, moved and entertained.')
This book is a timely addition to the ongoing conversation around migration and immigration in the UK. With Ify Adenuga at the very heart of the story, it explores the chasm between Lagos and London and how to not only survive but thrive in a new culture and country.
Being denied teaching jobs due to the colour bar. Working in an office amidst the East End's bombsites. Serving as a lady's maid to an Empire-loving aristocrat. Raising two children in suburbia. Becoming one of the first Black headteachers in Britain.
For those who are fans of the Adenuga family, the book is also a fascinating insight into their childhood and growing up as part of a new generation of young, Black, British people whose voices are still rarely heard.
In 1952, Beryl Gilroy moved from British Guiana to London. Her new life wasn't what she had expected - but her belief in the power of education resulted in a revolutionary career. Black Teacher, her memoir, is a rediscovered classic: not only a rare first-hand insight into the Windrush generation, but a testament to how one woman's dignity, ambition and spirit transcended her era.
Despite a tendency to reduce the history of African and Caribbean people to one starting with Windrush, acclaimed historian Hakim Adi demonstrates, from the very beginning there have been African and Caribbean men and women set at Britain's heart.
In The Opportunity Index, BlackRock Managing Director and co-founder of the #Talkaboutblack movement, Gavin Lewis, skillfully plots the origins of the racial wealth gap and its impact on the inequalities faced by the Black community today.
Libyan legionaries patrolled Hadrian's Wall while Rome's first 'African Emperor' died in York. In Elizabethan England, 'Black Tudors' served in the land's most eminent households while intrepid African explorers helped Sir Francis Drake to circumnavigate the globe.
Weaving a personal and at times moving narrative through some of the most disruptive events of our time, he offers a blueprint for businesses and individuals to understand the risks and opportunities presented by inequality and issues an urgent call to action.
Charting a course through British history with an unobscured view of the actions of African and Caribbean people, Adi reveals how much our greatest collective achievements - universal suffrage, our victory over fascism, the forging of the NHS - owe to these men and women, and how, in understanding our history in these terms, we are more able to fully understand our present moment.
An eye-opening and insightful treatment of what equity and access mean in the context of international finance, The Opportunity Index will earn a place in the libraries of finance professionals, business leaders, teachers, academics, community leaders, diversity, equity, and inclusion experts, and anyone else with an interest in racial, social, and economic fairness around the world.
BRIGHTHELM CHURCH & COMMUNITY CENTRE, BRIGHTON, BRIGHTON AND HOVE, BRIGHTON BN1 1YD
WWW.AFRORIBOOKS.CO.UK
from the team @
1. August in England by Lenny Henry
Charming, flawed, and with the gift of the gab, we all know a man like August Henderson. He is proud of the life he has built since landing in his beloved West Bromwich. So, when faced with deportation to a country he has no memory of, he isn’t prepared to go quietly. Poignant and hilarious in equal measure, August in England gives insight into the lives impacted by the injustice of the Windrush scandal. Written and performed by Lenny Henry in his playwriting debut, the celebrated actor and comedian brings his vast talents onto the stage in this intimate one-man show. When? Until Saturday, 10th June, 2023 Where? Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8LJ
2. Windrush Gala Dinner & Dance 2023
The Windrush Gala Dinner & Dance is Birmingham's premier Blacktie Dinner to honour the Windrush pioneers who came to Britain in 1948. The event is organised By community organisations Recognize Black Heritage & Culture, The Why Are West Indians project (W.A.W.I) and The Caribbean Family History Group. Supporters include the Windrush Fashion show among many others. The ticket covers a 3 Course in Caribbean luxury dinner. Entertainment from community organisations and local performers. When? Saturday, 10th June 2023 @ 6pm Where? Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Edgbaston Rd, Birmingham B5 7QU
3. Windrush 75 Festival 2023
4. Brighton Book Festival
They continue to hold their annual Windrush Festival, When? Saturday, 18th June 2023 @ 6pm
Expect to hear from authors and activists across generations as they share their experiences, inspiration and outlook for the future. We'll also be serving up some delicious Caribbean cuisine and will be treated to performances by some brilliant poets and musicians.
In 2013, Windrush Initiatives was the first organisation in the UK to hold an official festival in recognition of these adventurous elders, and the contribution they have made to the beautiful tapestry of communities we now have in the United Kingdom.
Where? Vernon Carus Sports Club The Club House, Factory Ln, Preston PR1 9SN
National Windrush Day will mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the passengers of the Empire Windrush to the UK taking the opportunity to celebrate the creativity, fortitude and legacy of the Windrush generation and their descendants.
When? Saturday, 22nd June 2023 @ 7:30pm Where? Brighton CCA, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, Brighton BN2 0JY
5. Journeys to Hope
In 2020, Autograph acquired a portfolio of 37 works from the TopFoto archives, some of which can be seen here for the first time punctuated with the profound words of Professor Stuart Hall. These works share the journey before, during and after arriving in the UK. These important photographs, alongside their stories, are now part of Autograph’s permanent Collection of Photography that aims to preserve the legacy of important narratives that have contributed to British history. When? This display is outdoors and can be visited anytime from January to September 2023 Where? Autograph, Rivington Place London EC2A 3BA
6. Royal Albert Hall Presents Windrush 75
Trevor Nelson presents a night of music to celebrate the impact of Caribbean culture on British life. This one-off concert will feature an array of guest stars, including Craig David, Beverley Knight, R&B group Loose Ends, saxophonist YolanDa Brown, calypsonian Tobago Crusoe, ‘G-folk’ pioneer Hak Baker and award-winning author and poet Salena Godden. Accompanied by the Chineke! Orchestra conducted by Chris Cameron. The concert will capture the breadth of musical influence which the Windrush generation has had on British culture over the last 75 years, When? Saturday, 9th June 2023 @ 7:30pm Where? Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
7. Windrush 75 Celebrating our Legends
This is a vibrant event honouring BritishCaribbean culture, history, and arts. Admission is free for all attendees! Indulge in authentic Caribbean food vendors, explore cultural artefacts, and discover a diverse range of stalls, health screens and more. The main stage will showcase captivating performances, including Caribbean old-time music, vibrant dance acts, lyrical poetry, and inspiring guest speakers.
8. Raising of the Windrush Flag
We’re thrilled to announce that on the 21st of June at 5pm, we will be raising the Windrush Descendants flag at Southport Town Hall in celebration of the Windrush Generation! The Windrush Generation played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of the UK, and it's important that we honor and recognize their contributions. After the flag-raising ceremony, we will be hosting a private meal for members of the Windrush Generation. This is a small way for us to express our gratitude for everything that they have done and to show our appreciation for their contributions.
When? Saturday, 24th June, from 12 pm to 6 pm
When? Saturday, 21st June 2023 @ 5pm
Where? Alexandra Park, 180 Russell Street, Manchester, M16 7JL
Where? Southport Town Hall, Southport PR8 1DA
5. Journeys to Hope
EAF is hosting the art installation over a 36-hour continuous period from Saturday through to Sunday to mark the period the passengers on the Empire Windrush had to wait before disembarking at Tilbury in 1948. Over the weekend we invite the public to attend in optional period costume. A series of curated films will be screened in the original terminal Grade II listed ticket hall including Motherless Child and Here I Stand Directed by Artist EVEWRIGHT, art films from talented artists on the theme of movement of people will be showcased on a 30ft screen. When? Saturday, 24th June @ 12pm Where? Tilbury walk of memories Terminal, Tilbury RM18 7NJ
10. Royal Albert Hall Presents Windrush 75 "Change Achievement and Progress"
The Friends of the Caribbean invites you to a celebration of 75 years of Windrush Celebration Ceremony. The celebration will capture narratives of the Windrush generation through satire, song, dance, and music. The event will be supported by local and national representatives When? Thursday, 22nd June 2023 @ 6pm Where? Rose Pillar, Campbell Park, 1300 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 4AD
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Mindset
with
Cheryl Nankoo
Y
our thoughts determine your attitude, your attitude determines your actions and your actions determine your life. Understanding your own thought patterns can be useful to notice what’s holding you back from achieving your full potential. Sometimes we have an internal voice that isn’t particularly helpful. Start to become more aware of this inner voice and change thoughts that are not empowering. Here are some phrases that you can work on changing:
1
“That’s impossible” Everything in the world was once impossible. If one person can do something, others can. You are possible and anything is possible, you just need to figure it out.
2
“I might fail” And so what if you do? Perhaps think of it as – there is no failure only feedback. At least you tried and this will lead to your successes. How will you succeed if you don’t even try? By trying your best you gain insights and leanings that you wouldn’t have done by doing nothing.
3
“I’m not ready” Life will never introduce to you something that you won’t be able to figure out. You have so many learnings
6
“People might judge me” Yes they might and if they do, are they really the sort of people you want to be around? Start doing what YOU LOVE and you will meet like minded people. Let people judge you and just consider that to be an automatic filter of the people you minimise spending time with.
up to now and all the resources you need to succeed. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be.
4
“I’ll start it tomorrow” Why not today? What’s stopping you? What’s the first step? Is what you want to start important? If so take start making progress today.
5
“But I have to do this” Wrong. You don’t. You always have a choice. Why live a life feeling obligated to do things when you have choices? If there are things that you feel you HAVE to do, how can you turn them into things you WANT to do?
Networking
with
Huw & Lorraine Bellot
W
e created Black Business Recommendation to "do for self". To highlight, authenticate, certify
goes to their community if they wish it to do so. This will also provide the consumer with a current register of black-owned businesses for consumer and business consumption and verification.
Business Collaboration & Networking Recognising that being in business can
and award Black business excellence and ownership, educate the community to understand best business practices, standards, and finances, and improve customer relationships through networking, training, collaboration, events and support. Here are 4 ways we plan to do that:
Do for Self "Do for self" is the mantra and Black Business Recommendation is establishing a Black Business Authentication & Certification programme. A kitemark will ensure that those making the conscious decision to buy Black will be able to do so safely in the knowledge that their spending
be a lonesome and arduous task, BBR actively supports business collaboration and networking so that the sharing of information, business strategy and knowledge becomes the norm.
Community Learning & Collaborative Working BBR delivery of programmes and training by experts in their chosen fields ensures that the community as a whole learns shares and profits from collaborative working practice without egos to achieve economic growth.
Black Business Excellence "Doing it for yourself" is the motivating force behind many black-owned businesses and BBR's absolute belief in highlighting black-owned businesses to ourselves and supporting the community in championing the varied and diverse businesses within the community is paramount. By creating events such as the Business Excellence Award 2023,
Black Business Recommendation is the platform dedicated to authenticating, certifying, and awarding black business excellence and ownership. Not only does BBR help you find local and national black-owned businesses, but BBR also educates the community about the importance of "doing for self", promoting
BBR has established the platform to
economic justice, and highlighting authentic Black businesses.
broadcast Black Business Excellence around the world, BBR will continue to grow and develop this platform to encompass business conferences & events both locally and internationally.
Next Steps Tired of wondering if a business is actually Black owned? Look no further than Black Business Recommendation!
We recognise that there's much work to do but we have already begun the walk and we would like you to walk along the path with us. www.blackbusinessrecommendation.com
Business Profile
with
Herman Allen
T
he phrase ‘social enterprise’ is a relatively new but commonly used phrase.
It describes an organisation with the mission to address some human or environmental need. The focus is on improving some specific aspect of society, and in some way that’s reward in itself and where the real profit is to be achieved.
Our Businesses I run two organisations, both social enterprises, Holibrook House and Hopewell School aimed at caring for and educating young people who have had challenges in those areas. These types of provision used to be run entirely by the local authority but in recent years they have been outsourced to the private sector.
My Approach Whilst some social enterprises are structured on a non-profit basis we took the view from the outset that we would operate as a for-profit company. Social enterprise businesses operate in a market like any other business and that is the first and most important thing to understand. Even though the product is ‘care’ or ‘education’ all the principles associated with supply and demand still apply. We have been running Holibrook House for two decades now, and have had to meet all the challenges that any normal business meets in order to
grow and succeed. It always begins with identifying an area of need or market for a proposed product. For us it was the shortage of good quality residential accommodation for young people caught up in the care system.
My Experience Prior to starting the company I had zero experience in the social care industry. The move from a career of being a design engineer in the construction industry to setting up a social care business was dramatic. But the one thing engineering gave me was the ability to solve problems. Even though the problems were considerably different from the problems I had encountered, I found that coming from outside of the industry gave me a unique perspective. I found I did have the personal skills that matched with the potential service in terms of leadership and creativity.
My Team I was well aware that this would not be a one-man band as operationally I would need skilled operatives to carry out the work in an industry I was not trained in. John Maxwell is quoted as saying, ”teamwork makes the dream work.” I have taken the decision not to become too enmeshed with the operational aspects of the business such that I am able to see ‘the woods from the trees’, thus keeping my focus on the business needs and development. I admit this has only
been partially successful because the temptation is always to become submerged in the day to day. It takes real effort to stick to my core competencies of providing strategic direction and business management, but I have found that the business thrives better when I do. As an owner of a social care business I constantly remind myself that the purpose of the business is to provide a service that the community profits from and that must always be the primary motive. However, we need to be viable as a business so profits are very important but still of secondary consideration. In practice to ensure this happens I allow responsible and social care trained partners/staff within the business to make decisions where conflict of interest could have arisen if I had made the decision, such that it’s very clear, ‘people first, profits second’. Over the years we have built a multi £million social care business currently with over 80 staff employed in the various teams and still expanding. We are in the business of providing care and education and our continued success will be a function of how well we provide those services.
To that end we have developed a Code of Honour, which starts, ‘Mission first…’ This is a constant reminder that commercial success is very much related to committed people focused on providing a caring and competent service that achieves the best outcomes for the people we serve.
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Public Relations
The
for
with
Nicola Millington
O
ver the past two decades, the landscape of PR has changed dramatically. The emergence of mass digital distribution has eroded much of the personal human-to-human behaviours the PR industry operated through. This has both positive and negative connotations for an industry that requires: mass dissemination of information, trust, and accountability as rapidly and effectively as possible. Although technology has addressed the
1. Increase Brand Awareness & Visibility (Share of Voice) To increase brand awareness and visibility, we suggest a comprehensive digital marketing and PR strategy that includes elements such as search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, and pay-perclick advertising. This will help to ensure that your brand is seen by the right people in the right places and will help to boost your share of voice in the
market. issue around rapid mass dissemination of information, to speed up the process of eyeballs reading your story, and permitting algorithms to fast-track your SEO. It falls short on the issue of trust and accountability.
Additionally, we suggest engaging in influencer marketing and running targeted campaigns to further reach new audiences and strengthen your brand visibility.
2. Gain credibility = Trust Factor One of the best ways to gain credibility and trust is by consistently providing quality content, engaging in meaningful conversations with others, and building relationships with people in your field or industry. It also helps to be transparent in your interactions with others and to be honest and open when communicating with them. Additionally, it's important to stay up to date with industry news, trends, and developments, and to stay connected with those in your field or industry. Finally, make sure to be timely with responses, and to be professional and courteous when interacting with others.
Reach out directly to the journalist with a personalized message introducing yourself and why you think they would be interested in your story. Be prepared to pitch your story ideas quickly and succinctly. Respond to their questions promptly and make sure they have all the information they need. Show gratitude for their time and attention. Stay in touch and keep them updated on any new developments related to the story. By following these tips, you can foster strong relationships with journalists and increase the visibility of your message.
4. Generate leads by driving traffic to your website 3. How to build relationships with journalists #journorequests Building relationships with journalists is a great way to get your message out to the public. Here are some tips to help you develop strong relationships with journalists: Get to know the journalist you want to work with. Read their work and get a feel for their writing style and the topics they write about. Follow them on social media and engage with their content. Comment on their posts and share their articles.
One way to generate leads and drive traffic to your website using PR is to create press releases about your business or product. and distributing them to the journalists within your sector, demographic, and product. Make sure to include specific, relevant details that will capture the attention of readers and encourage them to visit your website. Additionally, you can reach out to industry influencers and collaborate with them to create content that will be shared across their channels, thus increasing your website’s visibility. Finally, you can use social media channels to promote your website and create engaging posts that will attract new visitors.
with
Andrea L Richards
Finance
C
ashflow refers to the amount of money flowing into and out of your business, and it’s a key indicator of your company’s financial health. Here I'll provide tips on how to maximise cashflow for small business owners.
1. Monitor your Cashflow Regularly Regular monitoring of your cashflow will help you to understand your financial situation and identify any areas that need improvement. You can use tools like a cashflow forecast or a budget to track your cashflow and make informed decisions.
2. Improve your Invoicing and Payment Processes Late payments can have a significant impact on your cashflow. To minimise the risk of late payments, ensure that your invoicing and payment processes are efficient and effective, you can set up a Direct Debit payment option to reduce late payments. Consider offering incentives for early payment, such as discounts or extended payment terms.
3. Manage your Expenses Take a close look at your business expenses and identify areas where you can cut costs. This could be reducing your rent, negotiating better deals with suppliers, or cutting back on nonessential expenses.
4. Increase your Sales Increasing your sales is one of the most effective ways to improve your cashflow. Look for ways to expand your customer base, such as offering promotions or discounts, and invest in marketing and advertising to reach new customers. Consider new services that you could offer to your existing customer base to increase income.
5. Get Paid Upfront If possible, try to get paid upfront for your goods or services. This will give you a quick boost to your cash flow and help you to manage you r finances more effectively.
6. Seek Outside Funding If your cashflow is struggling, consider seeking outside funding. This could be in the form of a loan, a line of credit, or an investment. Make sure to carefully consider the terms and conditions of any funding arrangement to ensure it’s the right fit for your business. In conclusion, maximising cashflow is an important aspect of running a successful small business. By monitoring your cashflow regularly, improving your invoicing and payment processes, managing your expenses, prioritising debt repayment, increasing your sales, getting paid upfront, and seeking outside funding, you can take control of your cashflow and ensure the financial stability of your business.
If possible, try to get paid upfront for your goods or services.
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