BRISTOL BUSINESS FEATURE MARCH 8 - 14, 2018
BRISTOL AFRICAN CARIBBEAN EXPO
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HE SECOND annual Bristol African Caribbean Expo returns on Saturday, March 10 at the Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol BS2 0NW, starting at 11 am to 7 pm. The event was born out of the need to provide a platform for small and medium enterprises, particularly from the African Caribbean community in Bristol and its surrounding areas. The first Bristol African Caribbean Expo was held in the city last February. Though it is not the first expo to be held in Bristol, it is unique in many ways and is the first event of its kind organised entirely by African Caribbean nationals living in the city. EXPOSURE
Bristol African Caribbean Expo is aimed at African Caribbean-owned businesses and those that provide support services to them. It offers exposure and networking to businesses that are underrepresented and underexposed, both in the city and nationally The business exposition is good value for money; offering cost effective booths to exhibitors and free entry to the public, making it accessible to many who would not normally have the chance to experience an expo. The expo allocates space for
LANDMARK: The Trinity Centre in Bristol young entrepreneurs to encourage our youth to explore business options available to them. The expo also offers a children’s activity space run by a licensed individual and her team which allows parents to browse, network and shop without worry. ENTERPRISES The inaugural expo, which attracted over 1,200 people from the local area and nationally, is the brainchild of local resident Primrose Granville who is very passionate about why it is important to showcase the many small and medium enterprises particularly from the African Caribbean community in Bristol. She said: “I was born and raised in Jamaica, where I went
to business expos constantly. As a youngster going to these events was a day away from school and to collect paraphernalia from the stalls I visited. However, the underlying message was a positive one, I was interacting with business leaders who looked like me, talked like me and whose children I might be friends with. “Having spent over two decades in the UK and attending expos that is not the case. Going to business expos here and especially in my local community, I saw people of colour at these events but nine times out of ten they were cleaners or stewards. In 2017 we had 56 stalls and hundreds of visitors and this year we will be improving on the record set last year.”
Deputy Mayor Asher Craig to open Expo employment & training, education & skills, recruitment, advocacy, equality & diversity within local government and third sector. Ms Craig was elected as the Labour councillor for the ward of St George West, Bristol in May 2016 and was appointed to the cabinet with the wide reaching portfolio of neighbourhoods in August 2016.
THE Deputy Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Asher Craig with the portfolio of Communities, Equalities and Public Health, will be the main speaker at the Bristol African Caribbean Expo which takes place on Saturday, March 10. COMMUNITIES Cllr Craig has over 30 years experience as a community activist, leader, management consultant and now politician. She has championed the needs of the voice-less, with a particular emphasis on the social-economic development of BME and under-represented communities. She has led and chaired a number of major partnerships and organisations at local, regional and national level and has worked in the field of
PORTFOLIO
LEADER: Deputy Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Asher Craig
In March 2017 she was asked to step into the new role of deputy mayor – communities, bringing into and elevating the issue of public health within this new portfolio. Cllr Craig is also a school governor, the proud mother of three daughters and follows the Rastafari faith.