We’ve got down to business and succeeding Look how far we’ve come in the world of business

LLOOK HOW far we have come! The Windrush Generation — most of our parents and grandparents if you’re from the Caribbean community — came to this country with a single suitcase and little more than hope.

OOK HOW far we have come! The Windrush Generation — most of our parents and grandparents if you’re from the Caribbean community — came to this country with a single suitcase and little more than hope.

Now, 75 years later, they have left us a great legacy to build on.

Now, 75 years later, they have left us a great legacy to build on.

With all the difficulties they had accessing finance or premises, Windrush Generation entrepreneurs started their businesses in their homes.

With all the difficulties they had accessing finance or premises, Windrush Generation entrepreneurs started their businesses in their homes.

Most of these businesses were barbers, hairdressers, or providing a service like cooked food. From an initial customer base of friends and family, they slowly expanded through word of mouth.

Most of these businesses were barbers, hairdressers, or providing a service like cooked food. From an initial customer base of friends and family, they slowly expanded through word of mouth.

In the 1970s, Black entrepreneurs started opening high street shops in significant numbers, mainly in major cities like London and Birmingham. But too many also closed down as cash flow and lack of business knowledge caught up with them.

In the 1970s, Black entrepreneurs started opening high street shops in significant numbers, mainly in major cities like London and Birmingham. But too many also closed down as cash flow and lack of business knowledge caught up with them.

Almost all these businesses were exclusively targeted at our own community. This is normal among immigrant communities. We see this in the Asian or Eastern European communities.

Almost all these businesses were exclusively targeted at our own community. This is normal among immigrant communities. We see this in the Asian or Eastern European communities.

However, these business owners have been able to scale while too many of us have not.

However, these business owners have been able to scale while too many of us have not.

Examples include ‘Afro’ hairdressers; Black barber shops; Caribbean takeaways; Black nightclubs; sound systems; Black bookshops; and record shops (usually little booths). We know while customers bought from us, they didn’t do so in large enough numbers.

Examples include ‘Afro’ hairdressers; Black barber shops; Caribbean takeaways; Black nightclubs; sound systems; Black bookshops; and record shops (usually little booths). We know while customers bought from us, they didn’t do so in large enough numbers.

One of my early memories growing up in Harlesden, north west London, was that of Me Amigos, a business that supplied Black hair products. But sadly, I do not remember any other hair product suppliers until very recently.

One of my early memories growing up in Harlesden, north west London, was that of Me Amigos, a business that supplied Black hair products. But sadly, I do not remember any other hair product suppliers until very recently.

While there have always

While there have always been ‘self-employed’ business people, most did not employ anyone else or have an ‘outlet’ that was visible to the community. been ‘self-employed’ business people, most did not employ anyone else or have an ‘outlet’ that was visible to the community.

This lack of visibility led to many in our community underestimating the number of Black people in business.

This lack of visibility led to many in our community underestimating the number of Black people in business.

However, in recent years frustration at the lack of opportunities in the workplace has led to increasing numbers moving into self-employment and running their own companies.

However, in recent years frustration at the lack of opportunities in the workplace has led to increasing numbers moving into self-employment and running their own companies.

There is now a huge diversity of Black businesses.

There is now a huge diversity of Black businesses.

The Black Report 2020 was “the first qualitative report about UK black startup founders, working with 60 black founders at the pre-seed stage.” It identified a very positive picture of these Black start-ups.

The Black Report 2020 was “the first qualitative report about UK black startup founders, working with 60 black founders at the pre-seed stage.” barristers, IT engineers, bookkeepers and accountants. There has also been a huge growth in Black people working in personal services like social care, coaching, therapy, beauty, and in retail, selling products in barristers, IT engineers, bookkeepers and accountants. There has also been a huge growth in Black people working in personal services like social care, coaching, therapy, beauty, and in retail, selling products in

It identified a very positive picture of these Black start-ups.

They were roughly 50:50 male and female. Eighty-eight per cent were self-funded averaging an initial £14,000 and then accessing additional investments averaging £166,000, with 38 per cent from ‘People of Colour’.

They were roughly 50:50 male and female. Eighty-eight per cent were self-funded averaging an initial £14,000 and then accessing additional investments averaging £166,000, with 38 per cent from ‘People of Colour’.

We also know of venture capitalists, like Impact X, that target Black-owned businesses for investment that could lead to huge multi-million-pound growth.

We also know of venture capitalists, like Impact X, that target Black-owned businesses for investment that could lead to huge multi-million-pound growth.

Today, we have an incredibly diverse range of Black businesses that reaches well beyond our communities, considerably moving away from the ethnocentric approaches when we first started owning businesses in the UK.

Today, we have an incredibly diverse range of Black businesses that reaches well beyond our communities, considerably moving away from the ethnocentric approaches when we first started owning businesses in the UK.

We have far more Black professionals working for ourselves in a range of fields that includes architects, structural engineers, surveyors, construction companies, mechanic workshops and vehicle valets.

MAKING AN IMPACT: Windrush Generation entrepreneurs slowly expanded through word of mouth in a host of professions (photo: Getty Images)

We have far more Black professionals working for ourselves in a range of fields that includes architects, structural engineers, surveyors, construction companies, mechanic workshops and vehicle valets. There are many other fields — you’ll find Black entrepreneurs in such as florists, cake makers, photographers, videographers, drivers, tailors and dressmakers. Plus, dentists, GPs, solicitors,

There are many other fields — you’ll find Black entrepreneurs in such as florists, cake makers, photographers, videographers, drivers, tailors and dressmakers. Plus, dentists, GPs, solicitors, both shops and online, such as candles, skin care, dolls, clothes, sauces, drinks, honey and much more. both shops and online, such as candles, skin care, dolls, clothes, sauces, drinks, honey and much more.

I have even come across a Jamaican man who owns a parts manufacturer that supplies nuclear power stations.

I have even come across a Jamaican man who owns a parts manufacturer that supplies nuclear power stations.

What is great about all these newer businesses is we now serve all communities. A significant number of Black-owned businesses now have a majority of customers who are not Black.

What is great about all these newer businesses is we now serve all communities. A significant number of Black-owned businesses now have a majority of customers who are not Black. This is great news as these

This is great news as these

Black areas. For example, many African and Caribbean restaurants have opened all over the UK.

Black areas. For example, many African and Caribbean restaurants have opened all over the UK.

The post-George Floyd era and Black Lives Matter campaigns have extended the opportunities offered by corporates to Black-owned suppliers.

The post-George Floyd era and Black Lives Matter campaigns have extended the opportunities offered by corporates to Black-owned suppliers.

For example, Netflix, Sky TV and the BBC have commissioned far more original content produced by Black writers, producers and starring Black people. This can also be seen in the large number of Black people and families in TV adverts.

For example, Netflix, Sky TV and the BBC have commissioned far more original content produced by Black writers, producers and starring Black people. This can also be seen in the large number of Black people and families in TV adverts.

Black-owned businesses have income from a much broader base, leading to more stable cash flow and, therefore, longer term viability.

Black-owned businesses have income from a much broader base, leading to more stable cash flow and, therefore, longer term viability.

Even the ‘ethnocentric’ businesses have often expanded into areas that are not majority

Even the ‘ethnocentric’ businesses have often expanded into areas that are not majority

These have led to more opportunities to Black professionals and Black-owned businesses to thrive with additional exposure and more lucrative contracts. There is far more to be done, as we know there are also too many token gestures. Too

These have led to more opportunities to Black professionals and Black-owned businesses to thrive with additional exposure and more lucrative contracts. There is far more to be done, as we know there are also too many token gestures. Too often, corporates are not offering opportunities that lead to substantial contracts so we can scale our businesses. often, corporates are not offering opportunities that lead to substantial contracts so we can scale our businesses.

However, with the huge expansion of technology, professions and home working, we are better placed than ever to develop and scale businesses that allow us to compete in bigger markets.

However, with the huge expansion of technology, professions and home working, we are better placed than ever to develop and scale businesses that allow us to compete in bigger markets.

Enjoy Windrush 75 celebrations, but also commit to buying more goods and services from Black-owned businesses — not just getting your hair done or buying food!

Enjoy Windrush 75 celebrations, but also commit to buying more goods and services from Black-owned businesses — not just getting your hair done or buying food!

If you would like business advice from Asari St.Hill — ActionCOACH Business Coach and Founder of the Black Business Club, you can contact him: asarist-hill@actioncoach.com / www.actioncoach. com/asaristhill

If you would like business advice from Asari St.Hill — ActionCOACH Business Coach and Founder of the Black Business Club, you can contact him: asarist-hill@actioncoach.com / www.actioncoach. com/asaristhill