The Voice Black Business Magazine - May 2023

40 years of Black British Lives as told by the only national Black newspaper

With a foreword by Sir Lenny Henry, and written by former and current Voice journalists, this powerful book documents the social history of Black Britain over the last four decades.

Available now!

As the Voice celebrates its 40th Anniversary and as part of its legacy; it has published this book which shares the Black British experience through the pages of the newspaper - reflecting on what has changed and what has remained the same.

SCAN HERE

To purchase your copy simply scan the QR code or visit: www.voice-online.co.uk

Alternatively email: subscription@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk for information or assistance.

Clear Channel Compass helps their brands through high

Scheme to provide Black-owned businesses with free outdoor advertising space

Despite a rise in the number of Black-owned businesses in recent years Black entrepreneurs still face significant challenges when it comes to acquiring and paying for advertising space.

Advertising is crucial for any successful business, allowing it to reach new customers, increase sales, and establish brand awareness. But the costs can mean it is out of reach for small businesses with limited budgets.

According to recent research conducted by Clear Channel UK, in collaboration with Channel 4, The Good Side and the Backlight agency found that 64% of Black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs agree that advertising is crucial to growing their business, compared to 40% of their White counterparts.

But despite this, many in this group of entrepreneurs find it difficult to increase their brand’s visibility, with 22% stating they face significant difficulty when it comes to acquiring and paying for advertising space, compared to 10% of White entrepreneurs.

Outdoor advertising, such as billboards and bus stop ads, can be particularly costly, making it difficult for smaller businesses to compete with larger companies.

Nevertheless, Black business owners have shown resilience and creativity in finding alternative ways to promote their brands. Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer affordable advertising options, allowing businesses to

reach targeted audiences without breaking the bank.

Now, one initiative is aiming to tackle these issues.

In 2021, Clear Channel UK and Jamii, an online platform which showcases Black British brands to wider audiences, launched a scheme called Clear Channel Compass to offer Black-owned businesses a chance to win free outdoor advertising space.

Following the success of that campaign, the partnership is back again this year to support independent Black-owned businesses in the UK through Out of Home advertising.

This year’s campaign received more than 350 applications and ten businesses have won free outdoor advertising space. These include Aaron Wallace, a leading Black male grooming brand which provides vegan hair, beard and skincare products, Capital Waste which delivers sustainable waste management in and around London, Elliot Footwear which produces sustainable footwear, and Little OMO which focuses on educational materials and toys for children that teach them about diverse cultural representation.

Their advertising campaigns will run from May this year across Clear Channel UK’s Adshel Live screens, part of the UK’s biggest digital Out of Home network, within the next 12 months. The initiative is a long-term project that aims to spotlight Black entrepreneurs and provide them with a unique opportunity to grow their

businesses.

“After the huge success of the first competition, we’re really proud to collaborate with Clear Channel again” said Jamii co-founder Courtney Ismain. “High street advertising is powerful marketing that isn ‘t ordinarily accessible for many Black-owned businesses.

“The ongoing success of Clear Channel Compass speaks to how impactful and necessary support for Black-owned businesses truly is. Not only did we receive an overwhelming number of applications this year, but we also saw an amazing variety of businesses take advantage of the initiative. While it was difficult to narrow the selection down to just 10 winners, we’re looking

helps

Black entrepreneurs grow street advertising

forward to seeing their campaigns shining brightly on the high street.”

Richard Bon, Joint Managing Director at Clear Channel UK, says: “At Clear Channel, we’re all about providing tangible, effective solutions that deliver on our commitment to being both a Platform for Brands and a Platform for Good; Clear Channel Compass does exactly that! Not only do we know how powerful Out of Home advertising can be, but we also understand how crucial it is to business success and that’s why we’ll continue to support and uplift Black-owned businesses on the UK’s high streets however we can.” n

Clear Channel Compass shows crucial support for Black-owned businesses

PHOTO CREDIT-: Clear Channel UK

Why it’s vital to keep shining a light on Black entrepreneurs

The launch of this latest edition of the Black Business Magazine comes at an exciting time for Black-owned businesses. A number of events, such as the Black Owned Business Expo and the UK Black Business Show, have emerged in recent years which highlights the growing support for Black-owned businesses across the UK.

They have given Black entrepreneurs high-profile platforms to showcase their innovations and achievements while also providing invaluable networking opportunities and resources for professional development.

The opening of Black Pound Day’s second London store at Westfield Stratford City in February also shows how these business owners are starting to reach wider audiences. The store will enable more than 50 black-owned businesses to sell their range of quality products at one of Europe’s biggest shopping and leisure destina tions.

According to the Black Pound Report 2022, the combined disposable income of Black and minority ethnic consumers in the United Kingdom is £4.5 billion per year, with African Caribbean consumers contributing £1.1 billion to this total.

Importantly, the research shows that Black consumers, alongside those from other ethnic backgrounds, are making a conscious effort to support Black entrepreneurs.

And as research from Aston University has unveiled, they are making an increasingly important contribution to the UK economy.

derrepresented communities, funding local projects and training programmes, and supporting other aspiring Black entrepreneurs.

The positive effects of these initiatives are felt across the whole country, not just in certain local neighbourhoods.

A level playing field in business can go a long way to driving economic growth and opportunity for everyone so it’s essential to continue campaigning for these innovative entrepreneurs to be included in national strategies designed to help small businesses.

Black business owner

The inaugural edition of the Voice Black Business Magazine in 2018, with its focus on encouraging and celebrating Black business ownership and Black economic independence, was a major step forward in that campaign. It saw The Voice take a lead in spotlighting the challenges faced by business owners from underrepresented communities and provide them with a platform where their concerns could be aired. This latest edition of the magazine continues that tradition of giving prominent coverage to Black-owned businesses to ensure they receive the acknowledgement and investment they deserve.

Companies in a diverse range of industries such as eco-fashion, hospitality, technology, haircare, and cosmetics for example are being featured. It also includes entrepreneurs who are creating new twists on traditional African and Caribbean cuisine, and businesses which have been inspired by the rich culture of these regions.

Sadly, as other research published earlier this year by Channel 4 and Clear Channel has revealed, Black business owners still face significant challenges which limit their ability to grow.

High on the list of these problems is the difficulty they face in accessing loans to help their enterprises grow.

Despite the emergence of a wide range of successful companies in recent years, Black entrepreneurs still face barriers in getting investors to believe in their plans.

It’s an issue that must be addressed, not least because Black and ethnic minority entrepreneurs have the potential to make a significant contribution to the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda, which aims to create a more prosperous and cohesive society.

They often play a crucial role in supporting local economies as well as reducing racial wealth gaps. This includes hiring people from un-

Readers will be able to gain insight into their stories through a variety of feature articles and interviews.

This edition of the magazine provides a useful resource not only for aspiring business owners and consumers but anyone interested in the important role that diversity and inclusion can play in the business world.

A crucial part of that discussion is a focus on what governments can do to tackle the barriers faced by minority business owners.

It’s important that politicians acknowledge the role they can play in developing clear policies that will create equality of opportunity in areas such as procurement and access to finance.

Please continue to support Black business owners. If you would like to participate in the next edition, please contact us at: advertising@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk

Byron Dixon OBE is the founder and CEO of the award-winning brand, Micro-Fresh®An innovative technology used globally by manufacturers and retailers to protect and preserve the freshness of their products.

Byron began his career as a lab technician, developing leather finishing products for ECCO in Denmark. He returned to the UK with extensive knowledge and a network in the footwear industry to launch Corium Solutions in 2001. In

2006, Byron created the winning formula of Micro-Fresh, which prevents mould, bacteria and viruses on products including shoes and bedding. Now, Micro-Fresh® is found in retailers such as John Lewis, Next and M&S.

In 2014, Byron completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 businesses programme and went onto win many awards himself and for the com pany. Most recently, being named amongst the UK’s top 50 most am bitious business leaders in 2022 by the LDC. www.microfresh.com

The young entrepreneur who’s helping people achieve financial freedom

It’s not often you hear about a young entrepreneur who has figured out how to make a six-figure income only a few years after launching their first business.

Meet Devon Ossei-Manyon, better known online as Devon the Entrepreneur. After earning £9-an-hour working as a nurse broker, the 27-year-old’s life was transformed after he found success as an online entrepreneur. The Londoner now earns over £100,000 a year through his Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) business.

The online giant’s FBA service allows entrepreneurs like Ossei-Manyon to buy products from a range of sources such as high street and wholesale stores, send them to Amazon fulfilment stores and resell them on the platform for a much higher price, earning significant profits. “It always seemed like there was never any money left over at the end of the month” he says recalling his decision to launch an online business. “It got to the point where I had to choose between taking the train to work or eating lunch. I thought to myself ‘what am I going to do when I’m 30?’ The cost of living is just crazy and opportunities for young people seemed limited. I needed to make a decision.”

That decision led him to research a range of business opportunities before eventually settling on the Amazon FBA model. The pandemic played a key role in expanding his fledgling business. Covid forced many stores in London to close down. Ossei-Manyon would visit them, buy their remaining stock

and then resell them on Amazon.

“I got my girlfriend to drop me at these stores every single Saturday and Sunday” he recalls. The strategy was so successful it allowed him to quit his job and become a full-time entrepreneur. Now, through videos posted on social media, he teaches others how to build extra sources of income on top of their day jobs. So far, he has helped 10 people make over £10,000 in sales on Amazon. The entrepreneur’s expertise has

earned him a large social media following - over 73,000 followers on Instagram and 30,000 on Tik Tok.

Now focused on expanding his online business he also wants to step up his efforts to help others achieve financial freedom through an Amazon FBA training programme. “I want it to include elements which provide people with the self-belief that they can achieve anything they put their minds to” he says. n

Devon Ossei-Manyon has gone from earning £9-an-hour to earning over six figures with an online business. Now he uses social media to help others do the same.

Ossei-Manyon with some of the stock he regularly buys to resell at a profit online

www.tressly.co

Meet the woman transforming the $50bn hair styling industry

Meet Antoinette Ale, the woman transforming the $50bn hair styling scheduling industry as the CEO and co-founder of beauty-tech startup Tressly. The company’s mission is to empower freelance hair stylists through an all-in-one platform that enables them to create custom websites, manage bookings, communicate with clients, and accept payments in one place.

Antoinette, who worked in marketing while pursuing her passion for hair styling on the side, recognised the need for better software options for freelance hair stylists. This led her to partner with technologist Sam Wood to create Tressly, a software product that saves hair stylists time and helps increase their earnings. Unlike many other tools that take a “one-size-fits-all” approach, Tressly recognises that the hair industry has unique workflows and nuanced needs that require customisation options. This focused approach has allowed Antoinette and her team to gain a deep understanding of the specific business needs in the hair styling space, and build a product that is tailored to those needs. By doing this, Tressly has been able to provide a level of attention and detail that is often lacking in generic software solutions.

Aside from her work with Tressly, Antoinette is also a Task Force Lead on the British Beauty Council’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In this role, she investigates barriers that exist within the hair, beauty, and wellness industry and implements solutions to be more equitable and inclusive.

Prior to Tressly, Antoinette founded Haircrush, a community dedicated to Black hair care in the UK. The platform provides educational content based on her 12 years of experience as a hairstylist, and has partnered with innovative brands such as Pantene and Dyson to create more inclusive products for Black women. Antoinette’s work has been recognised in leading publications such as ELLE Magazine, Stylist Magazine, and Women’s Health for changing the Black hair narrative in the UK. n

If you’re a hairstylist or know one, visit: www.tressly.co or follow on Instagram: @tress.ly Join the hair revolution today.

Appreciation for beauty

Igot pregnant at the age of 19 and gave birth to my lovely son at 20. This really put things into perspective for me as I didn’t want to end up as a statistic of being a young mum that isn’t able to fulfil her dreams. I wanted to show my son and myself that it is possible to do anything you put your mind to.

I am an individual that has struggled with self-confidence growing up. Throughout my time at secondary school and college, I always felt like I had to wear make-up to hide my imperfections. It wasn’t until one day I was running late to college and I forgot to do my make-up (which I was gutted about when I realised) that someone approached me saying that I have nice skin.

That was an eye-opener for me. That day when I got home, I took a good look at myself in the mirror and I realised that I didn’t need to wear the amount of make-up that I wore every day.

Day by day, I became more and more com-

fortable with my own skin. I then decided that on a day-to-day basis, I would keep my face natural but when I go out on special occasions, I want my face beat to the gods.

I began experimenting with different looks and different products to suit me. This way, make-up became more “fun” rather than an everyday chore.

Just Love Beauty is a cosmetics brand with products that embody speed of application, ease of access, versatility, inclusivity, affordability and is redefining the concept of beauty and makeup with my self-defining quote, “make-up is art but beauty is spirit”.

Just Love Beauty was created to empower and represent the underrepresented women within the beauty industry. I believe the beauty industry is rife with unethical businesses selling overpriced cosmetics.

This is a platform for me to express my appreciation for beauty while promoting knowledge of the actual use of makeup. I want to increase the self-confidence of wom-

en, especially women of colour who are frequently overlooked in this industry.

I currently offer a range of lashes and glosses that are vegan, cruelty-free and of the highest quality. On top of this, they are affordable and can be shipped to the customers’ homes within a matter of days.

‘I want the women of this generation to feel beauty, see beauty and love beauty. This is what Just Love Beauty is about.’ n

E: justlovebeauty@mail.com

IG: justlovebeautyuk

T: justlovebeauty

LEADING LADY: Lauren Ramsay

CHIGWELL TOURS AND VISITS

By Salome Ahenkora, CEO Chigwell Tours

Spring 2023 finds Chigwell

Tours with a portfolio of tours across England and growing.

Our brand and popular tours include Sunset Barge Sail on the Beautiful Black Water Estuary, Award-winning Vintage bus, Steam train and afternoon tea tours, Bristol City Weekend escape and London City and Essex Countryside tours. Lux life Magazine awarded us “Best Bespoke Tour Operator, Essex 2021 and we were also a finalist in the Black British Business Award 2021.

Chigwell Tours is set to embark on its next adventure in expanding into the international market for tours to Africa. Our

11days Winter Escape

Tour to Ghana-28th December- 7 January 2024, is an opportunity for us to showcase and share Ghana’s amazing sun, sea, beach, history traditions, culture coastlines kissed by the Atlantic Ocean, scenic forests and eco-friendly adventures, and its amazing food, music festivals and friendly people. It will be a wonderful way to welcome the new year.

Our history

So, how did we start?

Many of us remember the financial crisis of 2008 when many SME’s and local businesses collapsed leaving a trail of devastation. Concept Consulting RMT Ltd, the parent company of Chigwell Tours, lost many of its business contracts and was on the verge of collapse. As the Senior consultant, I took a sabbatical year

out to pursue other interests pending the restoration of the company. Looking back now, what a blessing in disguise this proved to be.

During this period, the skyline of Stratford was being transformed in readiness for the 2012 London Olympics and the nation’s hunger for success in sports was gaining momentum. With little else to do, except to take a closer look at my local area, the inspiration to start Chigwell Tours and Visits was born in 2010 and launched in 2012 just before the London Olympics. Chigwell is just ten miles from central London, and it was appropriate that our motto should be …” Explore the best of England from London’s Doorstep.”

Teaming up with local historians from the start, my approach was to work collaboratively and in partnership. So together with students from the University of East London (UEL),

Our Winter Escape Tour to Ghana - An Invitation to Join Us ...unique experiences… unique memories.

family and friends, we started our tours with a one-hour driving tour of Chigwell and Hainault Forest.

So, what exactly where we selling and showcasing to the global audience who descended on London for the 2012 Olympics? We were selling the beauty of Hainault Forest’s 300 acres of beautiful forest, lake, farm, and family-friendly adventures and the London skyline from Beacon Hill. Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens, frequent visitors to Chigwell and the celebrity culture provides interest for tourists.

The magic of open spaces, forests, lakes, beautiful landscapes, and the coast are universal in their relaxing and calming influence wherever we make time to enjoy and appreciate their beauty. So, escaping from the UK to the Ghanaian sun, 3 days after Christmas will be a positive way of reducing the stressful impact of the long winter days and nights as we welcome 2024.

Ghana: An Oasis of Fun Connecting the Global Diaspora and Music Festival...

Your 11 Days Tour to Ghana.

Since 2019, Travel to Ghana Home Coming has brought many tourists to experience the

culture, food, sun and music. Your tour will take you to three regions. Join us for a trip of a lifetime to Ghana for a fun-packed 11 days with unique experiences creating indelible memories for you.

A snapshot of the itinerary includes a warm welcome at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport by our professional Tour Guide and transfer to the Accra Coconut Grove Regency Hotel for dinner, and the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers for your adventure.

dependence Square, visit to Parliament and Accra Sports Stadium. You would have seen the world from Ghana’s World Trade Centre! Then a visit to old James Town contrasted with a later visit to the opulent East Legon. Visit Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, National History and Ethnography Museum, the famous Accra arts and crafts centres and Ghana’s Oxford Street.

For New Year’s Eve, enjoy a relaxing day at the Labadi Beach, including taking a relaxing boat ride to the Lagoon for a reflective experience. This is followed by an exciting evening of celebration and a sumptuous buffet at the Labadi Beach Hotel or alternatively, an authentic experience of “Cross-Over” service to welcome in 2024.

Next is the 3 days visit to Cape Coast and the Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a must-see for people in the diaspora. You will also discover the Kakum National Park, with one of Africa’s famous rainforest canopy walkways, consisting of seven bridges attached to seven emerging trees.

Our 3 days in Accra led to the fabulous and larger-than-life New Year’s Eve celebrations buffet dinner and dance fireworks at Labadi Beach and hotel. By then you would have bagged an Accra city tour; visits to In-

Moving on to Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire, you will enjoy a ride through the city monuments dedicated to past Ashanti rulers, now turned into a museum, displaying treasures of the Ashanti kingdom, and then

to Manhyia Palace, the residence of Ashanti Kings. Test your bargaining skills at the local market before a transformational visit to the famous Kumasi Cultural Centre.

Enjoy live music and games in a Ghanaian pub!

On the way back to Accra from Kumasi, enjoy a visit to a butterfly sanctuary and the Kente weaving village. Your final adventure will be on the West side of Accra on the Atlantic coastline, with ample time for sun, beach, shopping therapy and exotic foodie experience.

For an unforgettable experience of sun, beach, history, pulsating music, food and fun, Join us for the time of your life!

We are now open for booking. Secure your place and benefit from our 15% early bird discount. Find out about our Payment

n

TOUR 1

20th - 31st January 2024

TOUR 2

28th December 2024

8th January 2025

CONTACT US:

W: www.exploringghana.co.uk

F: chigwelltours

E: bookings@exploringghana.com

T: @chigwelltours

UK office: (+44) 07960 241 694

Ghana Office: +233 595213154

Plan. Your package trip includes a direct flight on British Airways from Heathrow’s terminal. five.

Living your life the way you want

Iwant to start by telling you that this product is not just a product, it is a life-changing product that empowers and preserves independence. After 35 years of independence, I was in a wheelchair, I couldn’t walk, bending down was painful and putting on underwear felt like a battle Every. Single.Day.I saw a chance to help people with limited mobility.

That is when I came up with a Clip-Knix which is patented, award-winning, Front Fastening Underwear for women of all ages. There is no need to bend down, just use our unique fasteners to wear it sitting, lying down or standing. It has a patent which means it is the only product of its kind in the market.

The aim of Clip-knix is to introduce a revolutionary way in which women’s pants can be worn with minimal effort.Clip Knix is the answer that people with disabilities have been waiting for!

It can be worn sitting, standing or lying down:

• The elderly

• Disabled, wheelchair users, back pain and any chronic illness

• Post-operative recuperation

The importance of being able to maintain independence when you suffer from any kind of physical disability is priceless. This is not only good for a person’s physical health, but also for their mental health.Clip-Knix allows people with mobility issues to gracefully maintain their dignity, but most importantly, it gives them a comforting boost of confidence that makes life a happier experience. We need a world that provides more solutions for people who have disabilities!

The product offers a range of benefits that include:

• all products can be put on without the need to bend, stretch or balance on one leg

• easy and quick fastening

• a choice of attractive, feminine designs in 3 colours

• available in sizes 8 - 26

• soft, aesthetically pleasing stretch fabric for a perfect fit

• cosy and comfortable all day long

• Good quality lace and cotton

• Big buttons for ease

• Leak protection

W: www.clip-knix.com/

W: www.linktr.ee/clipknix

E: f.lawal@clip-knix.com

M: 07890554466

T: 02936018597

Surpassing goals and targets

He is Babatunde Olaniyi LOYE born in Nigeria. He gained a first degree in Management and Accounting from the prestigious University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University before sojourning in the United Kingdom since 2001 for more knowledge and broader experience.

Whilst in the UK, he worked with one of Britain’s foremost banks, Barclays, in the Corporate Banking Division and also during that period pursued a Master’s in business administration (MBA) at the Canterbury Business School of the University of Kent.

Subsequently, he broke into the formidable industry of insurance brokerage, climbing the corporate ladder to become a consultant at a reputably prestigious firm – the American Life Insurance Company. Afterwards, he joined MetLife in 2008 as a Business Manager and rose to become a Senior Manager, overseeing a team of 550 achievers – providing the leadership, re cruitment, training and coaching that they need to excel in the field of insurance brokerage. By God’s grace, he surpassed set targets and goals, for which he received numerous awards and accolades for his achievements, some of which include:

I. AIG 1st Place Award (Area Sales Manager) 2005, 2006, 2007

II. ALICO 1st Place UK Agency Award – 2009

III. Court of the Table Million Dollar Roundtable, Premier Association of Financial Professionals – 2011, 2012

IV. MetLife Agency Award – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

V. An Honorary Award from the Nigeria High Commission UK –2015

VI. Business and Excellence Community Leader - 2015

VII. A Letter of Commendation from the Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria – 2016

Between 2013 and 2015, Babatunde was the Assistant Social Secretary for the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK), a body coordinating the activities of all Nigerian groups in the UK, in collaboration with the Nigerian High Ciommission. In 2015, he was elected the chairman of CANUK.

In 2016, he started a foundation called BL foundation, which focuses on physically challenged children and caters for the school fees of those in need.

In 2018, he contested in the Governorship election in Osun State Nigeria, under the platform of the Labour Party (The party flag bearer).

In 2015, he was headhunted by Openwork limited, taking him on board as an Executive Manager to start a subsidiary company called Owl financial with some other 4 Executive Managers. Together, they grew the business from nothing to 100m pounds worth of business in the first 3 years.

After 5 years, he later left the company to start Alivair Financial Limited. n

Babatunde Olaniyi LOYE

Dating merging technology with in-real life events

Melanin Matchmaker is a dating service that helps Black singles connect and find love. After initial ly starting as a matchmaking service in 2020 then launching its dating app in 2021, Melanin Matchmaker (aka MM) is now set to launch exciting, curated events to add another dimension to its dat ing services. Founder, Dayo Israel says, “We realise that many singles want more in real life interactions, so we have some exciting plans we are looking forward to launching this year!”

Since launching, MM has had plenty of success with countless relationships, en gagements and marriages facilitated by both its match making service and dating app. Dayo says “We recently had a story which brought some of the team to tears. A lady emailed us back when we first launched and was very candid about her difficulty in finding a husband so wanted our help. A few weeks ago, she sent us a beautiful email detailing her two-year romance with her now husband who she met on the app. She included pictures of their wedding day which looked beautiful. These are the types of stories that

MM is now looking to expand into the event space by merging its technology with in-real life events to help users meet in-real life. MM will curate its own exciting events as well as partnering with event organisers

to provide what Dayo describes as ‘more organic experiences’. Dayo says “Ultimately, we want to be a comprehensive dating service which has a dating app for those who enjoy meeting online, matchmaking for those who want a more personalised, intimate service and events for those who prefer organic meetings. We have a passionate team who are inspired by the beautiful love stories we’ve helped create and are incredibly driven to create even more.”

Global Dating Insights, a publication which recognises excellence and achievement in the online dating industry recently described MM as ‘one to watch’ in 2023. With MM now adding events to its offering, there’s clearly a lot to watch and plenty to look forward to. n

Find out more about MM at: www.melaninmatchmaker.co.uk and check MM’s socials for updates on upcoming events.

bring us so much fulfilment and inspire us.”

BOBExpo celebrates five years of showcasing the best Black businesses

Launched by Monique Kufuor has connected thousands of shoppers with African Caribbean-led companies

When the landmark Black Pound Report 2022 was published last year it highlighted the fact that, despite the spending power of Black and minority ethnic consumers being worth over £1 billion they often faced challenges in getting products that reflected their cultural interests and background.

It’s an issue that Stockport-based entrepreneur Monique Kufuor was very familiar with.

“I found it really difficult to find cul tural products and diverse products, par ticularly hair products for my daughter, and myself” she recalls. “I would always have to go the extra mile to find them and I found this really frustrating.

Kufuor decided she wanted to make it easier for others facing the same challenges as she was experiencing. She decided to create an event where attendees would have the opportunity to interact with Black business owners, learn more about their goods and services, and make purchases directly from them.

In 2018 she launched The Black Owned Business Exhibition (BOBExpo) in Manchester. The event is now the UK’s largest premium shopping experience for cultural and diverse products and Black-owned brands. This year’s event, to be held at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, marks its fifth anniversary.

“We started out as a fairly small event that has grown to over 100 businesses” says Kufuour. “The growth has been so much that we can’t accept everyone who applies to exhibit at the show. # This year is extra special as it’s been 5 years showcasing black businesses and the amazing much-needed products and services. So many connections and collaborations have happened for business owners through BOBExpo, and we look forward to more connections.”

According to Kufuor there has been a huge surge of support for Black-owned businesses

in recent years following the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020. She says it has led to people “thinking about what they can do to help the economic growth of marginalised communities”.

This year’s BOBExpo will be sponsored by Lloyds Bank and gold sponsor Salford Business School is

VISIONARY: Monique Kufuor, BoB Expo founder

t Kufuor says she is most proud of BOBExpo’s ability to provide greater visibility for Black-owned businesses

returning for the second year. The event will kick off with a networking breakfast and business seminars aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. There will also be a kids’ activity day and an Afro hair and beauty lounge showcasing some of the best black-owned hair and beauty brands.

The entrepreneur says that providing Black entrepreneurs with greater visibility has been one of the things that has made her most proud over the last five years.

“Seeing the growth of all the businesses that exhibit at the event and the way that they’ve been able to benefit from the exposure that an event like

p Now in its sixth year, Manchester’s BoB Expo continues to draw thousands of attendees

BOBExpo has given them has been great. It’s still difficult for Black business owners to get the visibility they need. Our event is about providing a space where people can come along and see where these businesses are. The exposure that BOBExpo provides is crucial. You can see the pride in visitors who come to the show and every year you hear them say that they didn’t know there were so many Black-owned businesses in different fields.” n

For more information on BOBExpo and participating businesses, please email info@bobexpo.co.uk or visit www.bobexpo.co.uk

( PHOTO CREDIT-: BOBExpo)

p An entrepreneur engages with an attendee at last year’s BOBExpo

Service of the highest level

Merlene Harrison is the founder and Principal of Parker Harrison Solicitors. With over 22 years of experience in property litigation and dispute resolution, Merlene is committed to offering her clients the highest level of service to help them achieve the best outcome possible.

Merlene previously worked in a west London civil and commercial practice where she trained and progressed to a Senior Associate Solicitor.

Born in Jamaica and moving to the UK as a child, Merlene believes her life journey and experiences have given her a certain tenacity to achieve the success as a litigator and as a woman in business.

One of the highlights of her career so far is her work as a Privy Council Agent dealing with appeals from Commonwealth countries

to the UK Supreme Court which has allowed her to work with distinguished advocates from her birth country Jamaica, other Caribbean islands and beyond.

Merlene is married, and has a teenage daughter. She decided to establish Parker Harrison Solicitors to follow her life motto to ‘be the change you want to see in the world’. Over her 20+ years career she was often the only person in the room who looks like her so by establishing the firm, her hope is that it will be a platform for greater inclusion in the Civil and Property Dispute Resolution and Probate fields which her firm specialises in.

Merlene has a passion for helping people which she couples with her no-nonsense approach as a solicitor. She is also committed to social causes and completed an annual marathon Moonwalk event to raise money for breast cancer.

Parker Harrison Solicitors is located in Battersea, London specializing in civil and property dispute resolution and probate matters. They offer a free 30 minute initial consultation. n

For more information visit: www.parkerharrison.co.uk Email: info@parkerharrison.co.uk or call: 0207 846 6255/07375 892980

Amschela founder Keri Andriana makes history with a six-figure investment

The vegan accessories entrepreneur joins a small group of Black female business owners to receive this level of funding

Bristol-based business owner, Keri Andriana, has made history with her company, Amschela.

The PETA-approved vegan accessories brand recently secured a six-figure investment as part of a Series A round with lead social impact investor, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital.

The investment makes Andriana one of an elite group of black female businesswomen in the UK to achieve this level of investment.

However, while overjoyed, Andriana said the achievement was tinged with sadness at the fact that many Black entrepreneurs face huge obstacles in accessing funding.

According to a 2020 report by Extend Ventures, less than 1 per cent of venture capital investment went to black entrepreneurs between 2009 and 2019. Only one black female founder got Series A funding in that period.

“I don’t think the investment world is really cut out for us,” she says. “The levels that we, as black entrepreneurs, have to reach in order to meet the funding criteria and prove we run potential highgrowth businesses are 15, if not 20 times harder than those faced by entrepreneurs from other backgrounds.

After being made redun dant in 2016 the former lawyer decided to turn her hobby of making bags, inspired by watching her grandmother as a child, into a business.

Her handbags went on to receive several celebri

ty endorsements.

A chance meeting with Touker Suleyman from BBC’s Dragons Den resulted in the entrepreneur receiving some valuable business advice. “He said I should focus on brand awareness instead of boosting revenue” she recalls.

Amschela went on to be featured in many of the world’s top fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. Another huge accolade came when the entrepreneur was invited to showcase the company’s range of luxury vegan, cruelty-free bags at the prestigious London Fashion Week.

This year marks her fourth invitation to the event. She decided to work with a team of young fashion students from a college in Bristol to put together a collection for it.

The move reflects Amschela’s commitment to creating social impact by providing opportunities to young people facing barriers to getting into the fashion industry.

It’s a legacy of Andriana’s celebrated grandfather, the late Roy Hackett who was a key figure in the famous 1963 Bristol Bus

“I find it difficult to call yourself a success, just based on how much money you make,” she says. “There is a lack of jobs for college and university graduates which is heartbreaking for me. We have an obligation to bring young people through as much as we can.” n

(above) Amschela founder Keri Andriana

(left) Andriana’s PETA-approved vegan handbags and accessories brand has won many celebrities endorsements

Uome - The Black-owned fintech platform making self-employed life simple

Uome is a fintech platform enabling the self-employed community to run their businesses from their phones. It was founded by South London-born and raised, Jason Halsteada financial technologist expert with over 20 years of experience in financial services working for the likes of Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and HSBC to name a few.

Jason is on a mission to share his knowledge to empower the self-employed, particularly the Black self-employed community to reduce admin and have more time to focus on growing their businesses.

“I spent years working in the financial services industry and having worked with contractors and friends that work in a variety of self-employed sectors, I understand how important it is to stay on top

of it all. Uome is all about simplifying essential pro cesses required to run a business and empowering you to have more time.”

“With Uome, business owners have full control of how they choose to run and grow their business and can switch on or off integrated services. So, users can sign up for a monthly subscription and access open banking for instant payments or opt to receive funds via Stripe with our PAYG option. The same applies to our Klarna integration. Uome users have the ability to offer credit to their clients at their discretion.”

Connect Engage Get Paid

Jason Halstead CEO & Founder of Uome

What is Uome?

Uome is an app for self-employed people allowing you to:

n Send professional-looking quotes & invoices

n Get paid quickly (Plaid open banking instant account to account transfers, Credit card, Google pay, Apple Pay)

n Offer credit to your customers at no cost to your business (Klarna)

n Do your tax preparation (export expenses reports etc)

n Build client relationships

n Send project updates and attachments via the in-app message function

n A POS point of sale for in person payments; transaction fees will be waived for 1 year to new subscribers

All of this in one place!

Using Uome will give you more time to grow your business while staying on top of your finances.

So who is Uome for?

Uome is for Small business owners, creatives, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, accountants, consultants, freelancers, side-hustlers and sole traders. And you don’t need to have a business account to use Uome.

Making self-employed simple

Enhanced working relationships

Uome supports collaborative working and we know that many self-employed workers like freelancers, creatives and contractors work together on various projects. Uome allows users to invoice each other easily as well as raise purchase orders for repeat work with a few simple swipes.

Peace of mind

Uome is great for tax preparation and keeping a track record of your history all in one place. It also provides peace of mind in terms of a clear track record of client interaction, just in case something goes wrong.

How much is Uome?

There are three options, a free option, a Pay As You Go option and a subscription-based option at £9.99 a month (an annual payment option is available).

Did you know self-employed people spend over 500 hours a year on admin?

Get your time back and instead of spending your Sundays (or whatever your chosen day) writing up invoices, sending quotes and managing your expenses - download the Uome app and get your time back! n

Download

In addition Uome allows users to send in-app real-time messages to clients including invoices, visuals, documents and updates on projects outside of Whatsapp.

Offer credit to your clients

Uome is the first app of its kind to enable users to offer their clients/ customers a flexible buy now pay later option to spread costs (fees apply) to their business with its Klarna integration. This is something that can be switched on or off -giving Uome users full control. This works well for those who often have to pay upfront for costs or want to be able to do more for their customers without feeling the pinch.

Turning visions into realities

I’m a Financial Empowerment & Mindset Coach helping women improve their relationship with money to identify as and become the wealthy woman. My superpower is to help women, like you, conquer your money blocks, and increase your confidence and capacity to make and receive more money.

I am a wife, mum and breaking the generational curses that stand before

Using my 15+ years of experience in the finance industry, I have curated multiple 6-figure net worth owning 3 properties, having sound investments, and my own personal finance success story to coach and support women to eradicate the fear of talking about money by addressing the emotional impact money it has to our everyday lives so they can achieve more equality, inclusivity and freedom.

Personal finances is always a hot topic for many and particularly even more so right now with eye-watering interest rates, cost of living increasing, property prices through the roof and wages not keeping up with inflation. Everyone is impacted

What I have come to notice is the conversation is always about you and I needing to reduce our lifestyle desires and reduce our spending on the essentials to get by or to save/invest more causing scarcity, worry and stress around money.

Who performs their best whilst in that mindset?

What this narrative fails to address is, thinking and feeling more empowered with money, being more financially literate and understanding the importance of a positive money mindset will open up women to seek more fruitful opportunities to make and receive more money in their career, life and business.

I hear you, it’s challenging to navigate with societal and cultural conflicts that oppress women to feel they are not worthy and deserving to desire more money.

Women About Finance is all about women unapologetically tapping into their strengths, joy and desires with ease and making more money whilst doing so. This involves working on money traumas, money mindset and creating financial strategies that work for the individual.

I offer one-to-one coaching, and group coaching via my signature program the Wealthy Woman Clinic and master-class series to support women in their financial journeys. n

W: www.womenaboutfinance.com

IG: @womenaboutfinance

W: www.linkedin.com/in/cleo-matlou

E: hello@womenaboutfinance.com

MONEY MINDSET COACH: Cleo Matlou

Poetry therapeutic healing

Andreena Leeanne (she/her) 42, is a Black Lesbian Lived Experience Speaker, Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator, Author and Poet who helps organisations with their equality, diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing strategy by speaking about the importance of intersectionality, authenticity, allyship and belonging.

Andreena has created a variety of 45-minute presentations + Q&A which she delivers to corporate organisations, colleges and secondary schools on authen ticity, intersectionality, equity, equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging from a lived experience perspective and is particularly interested in connecting with chairs and co-chairs of the following Employee Resource Groups:

• LGBTQ+ •Racial & Ethnic Equality

• Disability & Accessibility • Women’s Groups • Religion & Faith

The multimedia PowerPoint presentations explores the identity intersections of employees who may belong to multiple staff networks and how to better support them in the workplace. The presentations contain real-life examples of microaggressions and practical tips for allyship in the workplace.

Andreena also facilitates wellbeing workshops which focus heavily on self-care. During the structured workshops, the participants are encouraged to explore what self-care means to them and find strategies to avoid burnout, reduce staff sickness absence and increase overall productivity.

In addition to the speaking and workshops, Andreena writes and performs poetry to come to terms with, and speak out about her personal experiences with homelessness, mental health, identity, childhood sexual abuse and the many other challenges she has faced in her life.

Her debut poetry collection CHARRED was published by Team Angelica in 2020 and was shortlisted for a Polari First Book Prize in 2021.

In January 2015, Andreena founded Poetry LGBT Open Mic Night which is a warm and welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community to come together to share their experiences and creativity through poetry and spoken word both virtually and in-person. Follow @PoetryLGBT on all the socials.

In 2018, Andreena was one of Stonewall’s Black History Month role models and was shortlisted for a Positive LGBT Role Model National Diversity Award in 2020.

In 202, Andreena became a trustee of a charity called Action Breaks Silence whose mission is to end violence against women and girls. n

Andreena is a member of the Professional Speaking Association and the Royal Society of Arts.

Charred is available to purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Charred-survivorspeaks-truth-inspire/dp/1916356125

Follow Andreena on Instagram: @Andreena.Leeanne.Speaker and LinkedIn Andreena Leeanne

Website: www.andreena.co.uk

YDWC is a social enterprise committed to embracing diversity and empowering talent to level the playing field for professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

We focus on the unique challenges faced by professionals who are underrepresented in competitive professions and created this platform to empower our peers with the tools, knowledge, and connections to overcome the social-cultural barriers that limit their personal and professional development.

We support our members to advance in their careers and partner with leading UK employers, bringing fresh thinking and strategic consultancy to address the most pervasive racial disparities in the workplace.

This community was founded on the belief that we can go far together, and since then we have empowered a cross-industry talent

pool of over 7000 members and peers with tailored opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

Across the year, members gain exclusive access to masterclasses, retreats, and net-

they can apply in their daily lives to promote growth and success. We welcome those who have an area of interest or passion, to come and share with the group, hosting their own workshops as part of peer to peer learning.

Previous retreats have covered a wide range of areas including Property Management, Financial Literacy, Work & Wellbeing, Communication & Emotional Intelligence, and Diversity & Inclusion.

By attending our retreat you learn and develop a new perspectives from a diverse group of peers and also have the opportunity to focus on personal and professional growth in a supportive and inclusive environment.

working opportunities that help them grow their networks, gain knowledge and share their experiences to empower and inspire others.

Join us at our Summer Retreat

Each summer we take a group of up to 50 professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds to a city getaway in Thetford Forest. Over the course of a long weekend, we immerse attendees in a fun and insightful residential, filled with knowledge sharing workshops, team building activities and wellness sessions.

The retreat offers an exceptional opportunity for young professionals to invest in their personal and professional development. Our retreats are designed to provide attendees with practical skills, insights, and tools that

The theme for this year’s retreat is Community Healing, and will be a chance to come together as a community to reflect, reset and renew our focus on collective prosperity. We arrange all coach transport to the Retreat from London, and have catering services that will provide 3 meals a day over the course of the weekend. We’d love to see you there! Visit our website to learn more about the retreat and reserve your space. n

Website: www.ydwc.org

IG: ydwcorg

LinkediN: YDWC Network

This community was founded on the belief that we can go far together

About AA Educates:

What our business does and when it was founded?

AA Educates is a community interest company that exists to develop excellence in high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We aim to raise attainment, confidence and aspirations through tuition, mentorship and career-inspiring opportunities. We have been in operation since 2020.

Why I started the business?

At the age of 16, my friend took his life because he could not cope with the repeated disappointments and lack of guidance he was facing, even though he was academically gifted. For months after, I questioned what I could have done. The biggest question I had was about our education system. This sparked a huge long-life passion in me and as a result, I qualified as a teacher, with one goal in mind TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

After teaching and privately tutoring for many years, I have had first-hand insight into the issues that so comfortably exist around achievement and future success. Fast forward to 2020 and the arrival of Covid-19 and school closures. A whole new set of issues came to the forefront and shed light on inequalities and once again I felt compelled to act.

I led and inspired a team of teachers during this period, setting up a free tuition and mentoring service to support disadvantaged students, keeping them engaged with their education. We gained funding and support from The Tobun Foundation.

During this time, I was seeing so many lost and worried young people who had the potential to do well, this brought back dark memories. After witnessing how many students and even parents that were positively impacted by our service, I was inspired to keep going and do more…

What has been / or currently is the biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge, to begin with, was strategically creating and building a trusted brand with little to no budget. Our current challenge is getting ‘buyin’ from schools as we are competing with larger companies, that have been operating longer than us. However, I am confident that with over a decade of teaching experience and the impact we have had, our offering is secure enough to bring to the marketplace.

Greatest achievement or the proudest moment in my life so far?

I can name a few; from having my children, gaining a degree in education, starting my own company, to then being named in the top 100 women by NatWest WISE100; who recognised me as one of the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business.

However, for me, it’s the little moments in life that matter most. I’ve always been drawn to those who need that extra bit of support

and attention, just like my friend needed. By the second year of my teaching career, I would often set myself challenges to see how far I could transform students. I surprised myself with the ability to achieve radical transformations with the most difficult and troubled students. My proudest moments have always come from seeing a child excel, as a result of being in my class.

Who or what inspires me?

WHO My children inspire me the most. They keep me striving and wanting to become the truest, highest version of myself!

WHAT The impact I visualise AA Educates having and how it will benefit the students who normally get disenfranchised in a system that was not designed for them to thrive in.

A recommendation for a book or a podcast which has helped me along my journey?

My book recommendation is the classic Think and Grow Rich. I really enjoy listening to Eric Thomas and John Rohn when I need motivation. The podcast I appreciate most is The Diary Of A C.E.O. I met Steven Bartlett recently who is amazing, he even shot a mini ‘motivational’ video for my partner as he was unable to attend the event.

What is my biggest top tip or once piece of advice for entrepreneurs & small businesses out there?

Try to see everything as an opportunity and stay positive. Even when you think something has not gone the way you had hoped, learn from it, take away the positives and just keep going!

What’s next for AA Educates?

We are building relationships with schools and embedding our programme, in order to become an internal intervention system in the state school sector. We are also building upon our current partnerships with businesses. We partner with forward-thinking businesses that would like to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities by offering our students inspiring career opportunities, mentorship or real-life experiences. n

Website: https://aaeducates.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAEducates

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aa_educates/

LinkedIn: /www.linkedin.com/company/aa-educates/

Black Empowerment, Enrichment & Support CIC

Islept on it – I needed to focus on the Black community. I thought about the losses parents suffered through youth violence and the ongoing pandemic – providing counselling and advocacy …. I rolled around the idea of the name, spoke to like-minded people – shelved it for a few weeks/months. I could not rest, and I knew I had to do it!

The inspiration for creating BEES CIC did not arrive in a blinding flash or a silo. I have enjoyed my role as Counsellor/Psychotherapist for many years. It has helped to balance out other roles that I have held simultaneously. The wider social, working and political environments changed in 2019 and I once again began to wonder how to help people more.

Working in charities, particularly managing diverse projects has ensured that I have continued to meet an intersectional and diverse community, providing an ever-changeable snapshot of the world at large at any moment.

People seek support when they feel they need it. I see a wide variety of clients go from strength to strength, gaining confidence, direction, optimism and faith in themselves. When I see that, I just want more people to access counselling, to make that journey as soon as they recognise a need and top up when needed. The challenge is that clients

may be ready and/or in need of that support, and they will explore whether the need can be prioritised, not only in terms of time but also with respect to costs. My thought process became… ‘if I needed counselling on a weekly basis, long or short term – I could not afford it’. ‘What about those who can’t…? What about Black parents, struggling with kids; losing kids, post-pandemic…. Where do they go??’

My attention also focused on work environments and the stress, frustration, trauma and anxiety that can be exacerbated for Black employees because

of racial dynamics. Where and how do Black staff get to express that without fear of being labelled, stereotyped and disempowered? Black employees may have felt they had to just survive in work environments, as opposed to thriving. They may experience internalised stress, depression, trauma and illness. Added to that may be cultural beliefs that do not

Jenni Bonner – CEO & Founder

Letting Black people know that something is available specifically for them was more important

enable expression or release of that stress.

I knew that I wanted to offer an affordable support service that did not compromise on quality and supported the Black community. I contemplated it more and once my decision was made; I literally dreamt the name; discussed it with colleagues and tried to shelve that and again it just had to be! The creation was quite organic. However, I had stated many years earlier that I wanted to run a charitable organisation but did not know what it would be doing.

Letting Black people know that something is available specifically for them was more important. Friends, family, colleagues and interested parties came forward to provide their expertise and support. I have been overwhelmed and grateful for the offset. The passion, interest and willingness to provide support were and are exceptional. I want to be able to offer resolutions and new pathways for the Black community using the skills of Black professionals from the same community – raising the ‘By and For’ flag. The relief once I finally made the decision was fantastic!

I had grown up hearing people say, ‘they could have been, should have been, would have been’. I hadn’t wanted to say that. I would rather say… ‘I tried and failed, than not to have tried at all.’

The Name…. I had gained an increased understanding and respect for Bees (yup – insects), knowing they represent a key element in providing food and pollinating the planet … Hold on a minute! So do

Black people! We have also been here since the beginning of time and are entitled to have a seat at the table (we helped make the table). We need culturally representative and affordable support (and so much more). BEES CIC was born. Black people are not going to go away and need to be able to better manage and understand the challenges that come their way in a way that works for them. Waiting for structures, systems, and people to change has not moved things much further along …. So, in the meantime how can we help each other more?

The remit of the business has always been clear and became more tangible during the pandemic. Friends and ex-colleagues offered and gave fantastic support, insight and advice. We designed the logo; our social media became ‘live’ and we have been learning and growing steadily ever since.

We have much more to do and offer as we develop key partnerships and collaborate with other professionals who also want to move beyond ticking boxes and delivering real change.

We have a skilled, committed and passionate team of counsellors providing excellent support to those who need it. Our sliding fee model means that BEES counsellors are providing counselling therapy to those who need it at a reduced rate – THAT is a community at work. Our Advocate is exceptionally talented, invested and interested in solving those issues that cause frustration and provides good results.

BEES CIC are still flying and gathering what is needed to keep pollinating – however, we are also fostering a community – a BEES Hive for support, to keep us flying! There is much more to come, we have a lot of ideas and we turn Talk into Action. n

FIND US | JOIN OUR COMMITTEE | HELP TO BUILD OUR HIVE

Jenni Bonner – CEO & Founder Black Empowerment, Enrichment &

Support (BEES) CIC

M: 07566 766 884

W: www.thebeeshive.org

E: info@thebeeshive.org

IG: @thebeeshive_org

T: @thebeeshive_org

I want to be able to offer resolutions and new pathways for the community using the skills from Black professionals

Cards that truly represent

resented her for the first time!

This Is Mi has been a dream of mine ever since I was made redundant from my job in children’s publishing. I got tired of always having to buy my family and friends birthday cards with cute animals on. Once I had my son and daughter, the idea of creating my own cards was always at the back of my mind, as I couldn’t find cards that represented them.

When the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, during lockdown I started to make birthday cards for my family, and I fell back in love with illustration. When my daughter saw her

birthday card, she said ‘Mum! This is me!’. I knew straight away that this was the name for the business, but ‘This is me’ became ‘This Is Mi’, reflecting my Caribbean heritage. I drew every day, and slowly built a card collection and worked on branding for our new family business.

After lockdown, and after bouts of doubt, we finally launched This Is Mi in summer 2022. Our designs are bold, colourful and modern, and celebrate the lives of Black and mixed people and their families. It was exciting to receive the first order from the printer, and see all that work come to life. Also, I was able to give my mum a birthday card that rep-

It’s truly a family business. Juggling school, work and family life, my son, daughter and partner help behind the scenes, coming up with ideas for social media, new card ideas, keeping the website updated, and packing up orders.

It’s very early days, and we’re still finding our feet. We recently dipped our toes into wholesale, and it’s amazing to see our cards on shelves in other shops. We are continuing to grow our collection, and in the future would love to expand into art prints and other types of stationery. I hope with my art I can inspire and uplift others. Our cards are for everyone to enjoy. n

Visit: www.thisismi.co.uk to buy our cards

Follow us on Instagram @thisismicards

For wholesale enquiries please email: hello@thisismi.co.uk

Embraces our perfect imperfections

Aspiring entrepreneur, Mother of three, Sister of many and Aunty to all. My aim is to secure a free future for my children without the limitations faced during my journey to today. To inspire others to live the lives they were created for and assist with that wherever my talents may prove valuable.

I find joy in seeing others evolve into better versions of themselves, as my daily objective is to impress the me that I was yesterday. Having spent the majority of my adult years seeking my purpose within my communities and in the corporate world, I have found that in breaking free of societal expectations, I am feeling the most liberated I have ever felt in my entire life.

I am also a proud sponsor of Community Communication Charity – Finding Nyah, which is a non-for -profit, specialising in relationship enhancement within families and the wider communities. Taken from the original Nia = Purpose, Nyah embraces our perfect imperfections as we don’t always get it right first time, but we learn how to do better by sharing experiences.

25% of the profits from the first three books by Elizabeth Hamilton, are contracted in sponsorship of Finding Nyah’s Community

projects. The first official project to launch was HE2gether. An interactive home education platform, uniting and easing the pocket of home schoolers and tackling isolation issues for the students. Beginning in the Northwest of England and reaching the West Indies within six months, HE2gether has proved to be a worthwhile and well needed addition to the home education journey. The second was our Community Collaborations Events which are so much fun to organise and attend. Please feel free to visit our site to learn more, www.findingnyah.com

Last year, my offspring followed in my footsteps and published their own healthy eating children’s book based on a fruit tasting day. ‘Jah’mar Eats a Rainbow’ and In Relation to Men are available on Amazon, Waterstones, other good bookstores and of course from our website. n

Website: www.elizabethhamiltonauthor.com

Instagram: @elizabethhamiltonauthor

Clubhouse: @ehauthor

Email: elizabethhamiltonauthor@gmail.com

Daniella is a workplace designer and consultant with an extensive career. From large corporations in banking, healthcare, education and charities to small and medium size firms in financial and technology services, she has gained excellent knowledge, perspective and experience working with clients across many industries.

With an empathetic approach, Daniella loves talking with founders and business leaders to learn about the challenges experienced within their offices. She’s passionate about how and where work activities happen, and how the workplace impacts health and behaviour. Using these valuable insights, Daniella creates beautiful environments, intentionally designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing of people to ultimately improves business wellbeing and performance

Space Positive can help your business and people thrive

Space Positive –Thrive in Positive Spaces

Daniella Bird, Founder of commercial Interior Design company Space Positive, is a champion and promoter of healthy workplaces.

From burnout to workplace wellbeing

I have been a commercial interior designer for over 15 years. In 2019, while working for a global furniture company as a Design Consultant with a busy family life and two young children, stress set in. Before I knew it, my physical and mental wellbeing was adversely affected.

Having first-hand experience with stress and, following that, burnout enabled me to appreciate the importance of a workplace that fully supports a diverse workforce. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), physical and mental illness are among the top four reasons people take sick leave. This was why I decided to make it my purpose to design inspiring workplaces for small and medium-sized businesses that want their people and businesses to thrive - in March 2020, I launched Space Positive.

Make your office work hard for your business

Are you a business owner with an under-utilised office? The chances are, you’re not alone, as the rise in hybrid working means ‘the office’ needs to compete with the option to work from home (or a café/the pub…). So, how can companies like you make it an enticing destination for your diverse workforce to work, meet, collaborate and connect while ensuring they feel fulfilled there? At Space Positive, we can help you with solutions to these challenges.

A well-designed workplace matters to a prospective employee. Including your office as a benefit in your company employee value proposition (EVP) will help you attract the best candidates and retain valued employees. Providing a choice of how and where people work in the office is critical to supporting physical and mental wellbeing. Research has shown that when people feel happy and engaged at work, they’re more productive, which positively impacts business performance - It’s a win-win!

Office design and a whole heap more!

Our clients benefit from unique design solutions; we go the extra mile with our three core services:

• Interior Design: space planning, coordination with contractors and suppliers, new and used furniture selection and purchasing, and styling services. Getting your office looking great, working for the people in it and ready to move in.

• Design + Shift: everything in the interior design package plus relocation coordination - If you need help moving into your new office, we’ll take care of it.

• Fire, Health + Safety: workplace changes can necessitate health and safety appraisals. We support businesses by carrying

out risk assessments, updating emergency evacuation plans, and preparing policies, keeping your office compliant and your staff healthy and safe.

Who is choosing Space Positive for their workplace?

We work with small and medium-sized companies that have an office or are growing and moving into a larger space.

• Project case study - The Space Positive team greatly enjoyed working with an energy distribution firm in East London. We were selected as their design partner as we aligned with their principles for sustainability and wellbeing.

The brief was to design a beautiful and multi-purpose office. We collaborated with building contractors Resource at Work to create a workplace that offered a choice of areas to operate, rejuvenate and socialise, each equipped to promote health and wellbeing, sustainability and brand identity. In addition, our Fire, Health + Safety service ensures their office is fully compliant and their staff are safe in their new space.

As a client of Space Positive, you’ll find us friendly, caring, and a committed team working purposefully to deliver outstanding workplaces intentionally designed for wellbeing, productivity, and of course, business performance.

The future looks bright; the future looks Positive

We have exciting plans for the future. While we continue to help transform the office experience, our attention is turning to remote workers at risk of feeling isolated or working in uncomfortable conditions when working out of the office. We plan to open our first co-working space in North London later this year - watch this space!

To enquire about a thriving workspace, please contact us. If you are planning an office refresh or moving into a new space and want a beautiful, healthy place to work, we’d love to hear from you.

Visit: www.spacepositive.co.uk or emai: hello@spacepositive.co.uk

Fabio Embaló was inspired to start Viaduct Generation, a mission-led independent SEO agency, in the tragic wake of the George Floyd murder in 2020.

Fabio began his career working in prestigious organisations at the very forefront of their industries, including Google, Mediacom and Searchmetrics, as an SEO account manager. To his surprise, there were very few people and clients that he dealt with that looked like him or that he felt he could relate to.

Curious about this apparent gap, he carried out some research which showed that only 0.06% of the 1,000 top online performing companies in the UK (sample from top 100 businesses across 10 industries) were Black-owned (as of July 2021).

Wanting to make changes and positively impact his community, Fabio decided to put his valuable skills to good use – leveraging his existing relationship with Searchmetrics (usually a tool only available to large enterprises), he secured an exclusive UK partnership with them. In doing so, (Viaduct Generation) offers AI-powered technolo gy to under-represented SMEs at a fraction of the cost.

Viaduct Generation has since evolved and now offers an extended roster of services that address every element of organic search. It has grown to an expert team of 11, providing services in Technical SEO, Content SEO, Digital PR, Email Marketing and Website Design and Development amongst others.

As part of their mission to reach underrepresented found ers, Viaduct Generation have partnered with various organi sations, including UKBlackTech, Jamii and Wakuda. They also work alongside valued charity partners, like CAM FED, Frontline Aids and AntiSlavery International.

As an agency campaigning for increased diversity in the industry and better access, they annually release the Diversity in SEO report, monitoring how many companies ranking at the top of search engines in the UK are owned by under-represented founders. In 2022, the agency won The Drum Social Purpose Award for Diversity and Inclusion Company of the Year and has since been nominated as Digital Startup of the Year 2023 at The National Startup Awards. n

Fabio Embaló - Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

A smiling team

Senior Leadership’

“The Tegemea team have helped us with setting up our admin processes and training our administrators. They are easy to work with and have a good grasp on what we need as a company. They are always looking for ways to help, and making recommendations on ways we can improve our processes.”

FOUNDER, HBS

for busy business owners, professionals and leaders who want to simplify their admin and manage their back office operations.

Tegemea Virtual Assistants is a team of highly competent, organised, friendly and reliable virtual administrators.

We work alongside you to develop a truly unique partnership, and an integrated approach to managing your back office operations efficiently. Whether you need us for a one-off piece of work, temporary cover, or an integrated part of your business, and or life, Tegemea is here to help.

How Our VAs Can Help You

■ Email & Diary Management

■ Invoicing & Bookkeeping

■ CRM Support & Data Entry

■ Call Handling & Message Taking

■ Research

■ Social Media Management

■ Project Management

■ Templates For New Business

■ Training Admin Staff

■ Onboarding New Clients or Employees

If you want to outsource some or all of your back office operations, Tegemea can help. We also have a range of contacts across Legal, Design, Finance, HR, Data and IT, so do get in touch if you need a trusted professional in any one of these industries.

The Process

Consultation call to discuss your needs and what you can expect from a virtual assistant.

Formal personalised offer for services to be performed.

WWW.TEGEMEA.COM

TEGEMEA

Contracting of VA to begin work.

Hire one of our experienced administrators on a short or long-term basis. Contact us today at info@tegemea.com for a free consultation

Many scents draw inspiration from my garden

The story of DLS Candles started during one of the COVID lockdowns of 2020. This experience gave me a different perspective, time to think about new ideas, to challenge myself and put these ideas into practise. I have always had a creative spark, and wanted to channel this into a beautiful product I could make at home – DLS Candles was born!

After much experimenting with types of wax, scents and mixtures of ingredients, I feel I have created a range of wonderful soy scented candles that reflect the care and attention I give when making them. Working with the many various ingredients indulged my creative side – for instance there are a number of different types of wax that can be used – I chose soy wax as it has clean and slow burning properties, meaning that you have more time to enjoy your candle! Many scents draw inspiration from my garden – a real haven for me during lockdown - especially my love of roses.

DLS Candles is a very small family business – I make the candles, my eldest son Harvey designed my lovely logo and packaging and my youngest son Oliver is always on hand for

my business in a high street shop felt amazing!

photographs that find their way onto my Etsy or Instagram pages. I also enjoy the full support of my husband Gavin, as I take over the kitchen with waxes, scents and jars!

I feel that I have come a long way in such a short period of time with my business. Last autumn, I collaborated with the Great Brand Exchange and held a pop-up event for a week at Boots in Bluewater shopping centre – having my business in a high street shop felt amazing! I also trade at local craft markets, charity events and wedding fairs – my candles make lovely wedding favours and I am able to provide bespoke scents and labels for your special day.

So, what next? My aim for this year is to grow further awareness of my brand with the ultimate aim at some point in the future of being as well-known as other leading candle brands on the high street! n

E: debbielloydsmith66@gmail.com

IG: debbielloydsmithcandles

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/DLSCandles

Having

Active fatherhood

Ibecame a father in 2019 and a key part of my bonding experience with my daughter became the time spent reading with her. We would read a variety of books and as we enjoyed these stories I couldn’t help noticing the lack of representation of active fatherhood. By active fatherhood, I mean simple things like taking your child to the park, bathing your child and even giving your child dinner.

Fatherhood in most children’s books is portrayed in a passive role such as going to work or the dads usually appear only alongside the mothers.

There is great misrepresentation of what fatherhood actually is. When I look at my friends and the role that I play in my daughter’s life, we are all extremely active and involved in the different aspects of our children’s lives.

I originally started writing a book that would be just for my daughter. As the process continued, I decided to share it with others, further expanding on this by publishing a second version of ‘When Does Daddy Love You’ suitable for father and son.

‘When Does Daddy Love you?’ A story about a dad and child’s relationship throughout different aspects of life. It takes you through different moments of life shared by a father and his daughter, while playing, drawing, eating, showering and reading stories at bedtime.

This book is great for your child to help them understand the emotions of a father’s love for his child. Over 10 different beautiful illustration scenes and stickers pack for playful activities with your child. n

The books are available from: www.MauriceTheAuthor.com

Keep up to date with all the latest news including pop up stall locations on our Instagram: @mauricetheauthor

For queries please email: info@mauricetheauthor.com

The Guild of Caribbean Cuisine has been created to raise the profile of Caribbean food and food businesses and NCASS are working with them to provide the resources and support the sector needs.

The guild wants to hear what you think and so have put together a short survey, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts.

What’s it all about?

Do you love Caribbean cuisine? Do you want to see more diverse and authentic Caribbean restaurants in the UK? We want to hear from you!

The survey covers a variety of topics, including your experiences with the guild, your interests and preferences, and your suggestions for improvements. We value your feedback and will use it to make data-driven decisions to enhance our services.

Your participation is completely anonymous and confidential. We encourage you to be honest and share your thoughts openly. Your feedback will help us to improve the guild for everyone.

What’s in it for me?

Don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape the future of Caribbean food in the UK - you’ll also have the chance to win a gift card to one of our member restaurants.

www.guildofcaribbeancuisine.com

My name is Brandon Milambo and I am the founder of PalmTree. I am from DRC Congo, I was born in Belgium and moved to the UK at 14 years old where I went on to study Software Engineering at Kingston university.

From the age of 10, I developed an interest in technology and this was reinforced by my Congolese heritage, a country that provides over 60% off the world’s cobalt (a key material required to power electrical devices such as mobiles and electronic cars etc).

Growing up I always wondered ‘what if I could find a way to use this same technology to help the Black community?

Where did I get the inspiration from?

I have always found myself in positions where I struggled to find local Black-owned stores

or businesses to buy groceries from or get my hair cut.

It seemed like a task that could be made much simpler. I realised that in my search for such businesses, I couldn’t name 5 of them in my city. I then created a survey and conducted my own market research and the results were astonishing. I realised there were a lot more people in the same position I was in.

I used the results of the survey to try pinpoint the reasons people did not support black businesses as much as they wanted to and how to improve the amount of money spent in the black community. I wondered how I could use Technology to help improve these statistics.

On my quest, I learned how to code, I enlisted the support of a mentor who was an app developer. I realised I wanted to create an App that shows black-owned businesses near me in whichever city I was in, in less than 5

seconds.

I became a mobile app software Engineer during the pandemic and began working on PalmTree. I want to use this App make it easy for people to find Black owned businesses in their local area (currently only available in the UK), raise awareness of local black-owned businesses, and provide visibility.

Where do I hope the company to be?

PalmTree is more than a business directory, I want it to become a travel tool similar to trip advisor, A tool for other businesses can use for data access, a consulting service to help businesses excel in the tech world. n

IG: @palmtreeapp

W: www.palmtreeapp.co.uk

E: info@palmtreeapp.co.uk

My Celebration Day was born!

Over many years, I have struggled to find greeting cards which show diversity, creativity, and a real connection with my culture. Although a born and bred Brit, I’ve always yearned for representation and greeting cards that really resonate with my cultural background.

The current online card market does offer us a chance to customize and create cards, but what about the luxury of being able to choose from a wide catalogue of pre-made cards which represent my culture? My Celebration Day was born!

I’ve not only created a home for cards which represent me, people like me, and my

culture. I’ve also created a new home for creative designers and illustrators, to express their unique talent and creativity, which you won’t find on the high streets! We are lucky to be working with exceptionally talented individuals from all over the globe, and we reward them accordingly with industry standard commission rates

My Celebration Day is all about humour, good vibes, and celebrating the important moments, however big or small! There is never a celebration not worth celebrating, from International Independence days, to Birthdays, or just a little note to give that friend a mini applause for passing a test – My Celebration Day is here for it all! n

Curtis Britton Artist recruitment and management team

E: info@mycelebrationday.com

W: www.mycelebrationday.com

IG: @mycelebrationdayuk

FB: @mycelebrationday

T: @MyCelebrationD1

Curtis Britton

Dr Tru Powell

Tru is a multi-award winning personal brand expert and creative entrepreneur. Tru has over 15 years in enterprise, the arts and events, and is very passionate about supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs to get visible and build their personal brands. Tru Powell Consultancy & Events Ltd works with a plethora of entrepreneurs and business leaders internationally to build and monetise their personal brands.

Tru is the CEO for the Multicultural Business & Community Champion Awards, an initiative that sets out to celebrate unsung heroes and champion diversity in the UK.

In addition, Tru is the Creative & Events Director for Aston Performing Arts Academy, a community interest organisation that exists to empower young people through performing and creative arts. Since the organisation’s inception in 2004, the company has impact-

ed the lives of over 3000 young people in the Midlands.

Tru is also a Business Partner in the UK’s first children’s pamper salon Kandy Girl offering pampering experiences for young kids aged 3-16 and is also a visiting lecturer for Arden University & Warwickshire University.

Tru is a Board Member for West Midlands Regional Tourism Board, Birmingham Hippodrome and a NED for TAG Network Midlands and Powered by CAN.

Tru has a passionate belief in championing the cause of equality, justice and freedom of speech. He believes there should be a true representation of all communities irrespective of race, gender, religion, sexuality, age or class. More recently, Tru has been doing a lot of work around race relations, specifically being anti-racist.

When Tru is not working on his multiple businesses or speaking at events, you can

catch him on the nation’s favourite breakfast TV programme, Good Morning Britain as he has become a regular commentator on the show.

Over the years, Tru has been awarded with numerous accolades for enterprise and his contribution to the arts. In 2014, he was recognised as one of Birmingham’s most inspirational young leaders and in 2018 was crowned Birmingham’s Young Professional of the Year. In addition, Tru also won NatWest Entrepreneur Awards as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year 2018’, and in 2019 was crowned the Future Face of Entrepreneurship awarded by the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Tru was recently recognised as one of the Top 25 Black entrepreneurs to watch in the UK by HSBC & BBSUK, and was recognised as a Future Figure from BBC 1Xtra, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Arden University for his services to business! n

Tru has over 15 years in enterprise, arts, events... and passionate about supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs

Matugga Rum Scottish Craft with an African Soul

Meet the husband-and-wife team behind Scotland’s first Black-owned rum distillery

Jacine and Paul Rutisikwa are not typical of the people you’d find heading a rum distillery. The couple are the founders of Matugga Distillers, Scotland’s first Black-owned distillery, where they handcraft their artisanal rums with the finest ingredients and flavours from east Africa and combine them with distilling skills honed in Scotland.

Their unique approach to rum production has earned them several plaudits.

The idea for Matugga was born in 2014 when the couple were searching for a better work-life balance after the birth of their first child.

During a three-month trip to Uganda, where Paul’s family hail from, they were inspired to start a rum business after realising there were so few spirit brands in the world drinks market that had a link to Africa.

“One thing that struck me about Uganda is there is a lot of sugar cane but no rum culture” Jacine recalls. “Whenever I think of sugar cane, I think of rum.”

They launched their flagship Matugga Golden and Spiced rums through a contracted distillery in August 2015. The products were an instant hit at that year’s London Rum Festival.

“People asked how UK-made rum was possible without sugar cane” she says. “Black festival visitors were so proud of the fact that we were a Black-owned company and rum industry interest led to our first export deal.”

However, they soon realized they wanted to take complete control of the production process.

That led to a move to Scotland where Paul studied for an MSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh to learn everything they needed to know about running a distillery.

“Our young family had to deal with the whole process of settling into an unfamiliar country. It was a lot to deal with but we had

to be very focused on what we wanted to achieve” Jacine says.

In 2018, they opened the doors of their distillery in Livingston, East Lothian.

Paul became master distiller while Jacine managed the marketing and branding. Their teamwork led to them quickly establishing themselves in the industry.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Matugga Rum launched a new brand called Liv in 2020, featuring white and flavoured rums, which has since become a major hit with consumers.

Following their success the husband and wife team say they are excited by the greater diversity they now see in the rum industry.

“When we started, we were the first Black-owned UK rum brand but now there are so many. We want to make sure there’s representation across the industry and why not?” n

PIONEERS: Jacine and Paul Rutisikwa at their distillery in Livingston, East Lothian

The entrepreneurial couple have made a major impact in the rum industry

Matugga’s flagship Golden and Spiced rums

From Ghana to Brixton!

Shimirose is a luxury vegan, cruelty free skincare brand based in London. Their products predominantly use shea butter sourced from a community of 40 women in the northern part of Ghana.

Shimirose founder Akua Asiedua Asare-Loupalo Bi is originally from Ghana.

Shimirose started trading in farmer’s markets nearly 5 years ago and their first markets were in Brixton Station Road as well as Herne Hill, both on Sundays. One would normally see Akua at her stall in Brixton or Herne Hill.

Shimirose Shea Butters and African Black Soaps began to get noticed at various markets, events and tradeshows across the UK where Akua would advocate the benefits of shea butter and how it could improve the skin or hair of individuals.

Akua recently acquired a retail space at Unit 32 in the Brixton Village. Shimirose will be opening its doors in July 2023. We are very excited to see this authentic brand progress from the market to a shop within the vibrant Brixton Village. n

Discount code: SRVM723

www.shimirose.com

Shimirose,

So much more than slavery

Ekaete has spent over a decade teaching history to secondary school children across London. A committed Pan Africanist, her passion for education and Africa has led her to start The Pan African Academy – an online supplementary school which provides children aged 8-14 with the opportunity to study African history in an enriching and

meaningful way.

“If you think that you have no worthy history, that you come from nothing, you will tend to act that out. But if you think that you come from greatness, you will aim for the stars.”

Students work through various themes, including ‘Power and Government’ and ‘Science and Technology’ to build a better under-

standing of the rich history of Africa. Students learn to examine the evidence, analyse, compare and evaluate in order to form interpretations of the past in the same way a historian does.

Too often, we see black people only appearing in school curriculums when they are linked to trauma. The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the US Civil Rights Movement are two examples of topics which schools will include to show diversity in their curriculum. However, this can be very traumatic for black students, who may internalise the struggle they are being shown due to a lack of context and balance.

Understanding that the history of black people is so much more than slavery and struggle gives students a more balanced understanding of their history and in turn, prevents the curriculum trauma which can so often occur.

Lessons are weekly and learning activities are varied to cater for different learning styles.

Often, due to the nature of the content we cover, wider conversations will arise regarding Africa and students are always welcomed, and encouraged even, to be inquisitive and ask questions.

Her goal for The Pan African Academy is to ensure that children of African descent feel a sense of pride regarding their identity, and while acknowledging the struggles that Africa has faced and still faces, to also acknowledge the glorious history of our continent. Outside of slavery and colonialism. Her hope is that this sense of pride will translate to young people who carry themselves in a manner befitting sons and daughters of Africa. Who care about their communities and maybe even go on to pursue studies and careers which tie into the further development of the African continent. n

Ekaete Alfred Director and Principal of The Pan African Academy

T: 020 3813 1109

E: info@panafricanacademy.org

W: www.panafricanacademy.org

MerkyBikes was conceived as a viable business idea in April 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, cycling took off as a means of getting out within the parameters of the very strict lock down rules. As we (partners Naomii and Tobias) started to look for our own e-bikes, we saw there was a shortage and very long waiting lists - so we set about finding a manufacturer and in doing so, found one that would deliver us a fleet and so MerkyBikes was founded.

To say we were novices is an understatement. Tobias’ previous professional experience spanned film (he played the role of Evil in the 2009 film One Day), logistics and engineering whilst I had been a life long recruiter headhunting talent in extremely niche markets. Yet still, within only a few months, terms like “pedal assist”, “full throttle”, “mid motor”, “rear motor” and “shimano brakes” became part of our every day language. MerkyBikes became our lockdown baby and was swiftly followed by another lock down gift in the form of our youngest baby Kobe who joined us in August 2021.

We found that our individual strengths combined was propelling us forward. Tobias’ methodical approach to business paired with his discipline and determination, seemed perfectly matched to my flair for sales, relationship building and all things administrative.

We have 4 models in our range which consists of a foldable, an urban/step through and 2 mountain bikes, one of which is high powered for tougher terrains.

We are the only black business occupying this space and we want to encourage as many people as possible to join the e-bike revolution. n

The Power of SELF B

ased in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire as a DJ, radio show presenter, community activist, mental health first aider, race equality network member and working 9-5 as an NHS Procurement Category Manager. Many would think Errol Brown having time for an important community interest company would be impossible.

Over the years and as part of a team, I’ve enjoyed creating awareness/raising funds for organisations ‘Prostate Cancer UK, Diabetes, Sickle cell and a local NHS Epilepsy department. I continue to be a structured, passionate, dedicated and determined individual focussing on supporting the Black Community. Advocacy is my mantra, encouraging or speaking up for those who are not in the room and whose voice is often not heard. I also see myself as being creative and an ideas person.

Moving forward as one of the Directors of the BBSA (Black Business Support Agency), I work with a great team that facilitates a Black Business Expo annually. This year’s event takes place on the 9th July 2023 at the John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 6PG. Doors open at 10:00am – 5:00pm, come down early for a chance to grab a FREE Goodie Bag or win a raffle

Errol Brown Director at BBSA (Black Business Support Agency) CIC

prize, entry for delegates is FREE OF CHARGE.

Shaun Wallace - Barrister, Lecturer, TV Quiz show host on ‘The Chase’ is confirmed as our keynote speaker and we are proud to announce partnerships with the VOICE Newspaper, Lloyds Bank and GOOGLE Digital Garage.

BBSA, the hosts of this event, are a group of men from diverse backgrounds/professions who came together in March 2018 to formulate a business and support a community enterprise. Our main aim is to establish the ‘Expo’ as a driver for innovative ideas, collaboration, providing value to the community of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and surrounding areas. This holistic experience will include exhibitor stalls, interactive panel session, keynote speakers/guidance on business growth, financial support, social media strategies, managing budgets, business mentoring, digital marketing and building your personal brand online. Somebody once told me, a Black Business Expo would never work, from that day, I aspire to inspire others by staying positive and encouraging a ‘Talk IT, Walk IT, Manifest IT’ approach.

In business or daily life there will be turbulent times and finding that balance of nutrition, exercise, mental/physical wellbeing is key to our resilience and sustainability. To guide

I aspire to inspire others by staying positive and encouraging...

Determination

me through my journey, I believe it is very important to know/find time for self. Family, music and cycling is part of my escape mechanism, supporting others is my purpose and passion. As a way of topping up my resilience and staying focused, I remind myself of my self-penned affirmation which helps immensely. n

For Exhibiting Opportunities or further information about

Huddersfield’s Black Business Expo 2023

T: 07824 515487

E: bbexpo25@gmail.com

IG: @expoblackbusiness

W: www.blackbusinessexpo.co.uk

‘Let the power of self-determination elevate you without limitation”

MEN IN BLACK: The BBSA team striking a pose

Satisfying your natural needs

projects I had tried and not succeeded in the past, I had gained the tools to see my goals through if I could stay consistent. That night, my mentality shifted.

I spent that week off working tirelessly, with the sole goal of having a full business plan by the following sunday. I believed that if I was to ‘place a brick down each day’, I was going to have a business.

Our products use premium broad-spectrum CBD which contains 0% THC. We offer ingestible oils, in natural and peppermint flavours, currently available in mid and high strengths. We also offer a luxurious high-concentration CBD roll-on, infused with lavender & ylang-ylang, to help amplify its relaxing properties whilst also providing targeted relief, for things like headaches and aches & pains.

We have received some incredible feedback from our customers, mentioning improvements in sleep, mood, and focus having used our products, which inspires us to continue educating and serving our community. As we look to grow and expand our range, we will always prioritise education and transparency to ensure our customers have the best possible experience with our brand. n

Interested in trying our products or learning more about CBD? visit our website, satiza.co.uk, and follow us on socials @satizacbd

Activities to spark young imaginations

Inspiring Kids World is a company that not only aims to provide fun learning resources to households and classrooms, but they also ensure that the products they create feature a diverse range of characters and topics.

Maxine Lewis founded Inspiring Kids World in 2020 during the UK lockdown with the idea of using her many years of experience working as an SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) teacher and foster carer to create a range of products that were educational, and also reflected the diverse society we live in as she felt there was a lack of these available.

Within this changing world of technology, she noticed that many children were spending a lot of time on electronic devices and watching TV, so she set out on a mission to change this by producing a range of exciting products that would hold their attention and stimulate their young minds just as well.

Currently their catalogue of products includes colouring pages, activity boxes, playdough mats, puzzle pages & reward charts. When designing new products they make

sure inclusivity is at the heart of all of their designs.

For example they have a set of princess colouring pages featuring princesses from around the world including some with disabilities.

emotional wellbeing.

Their How do you Feel play dough mats come with different tasks in which little ones can creatively describe how they are feeling. For example using their play dough to add rays to the happy sun or raindrops to the sad cloud. These products have been found to be especially beneficial for children with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders) as a way of exploring and expressing their emotions.

Maxine’s vision for the future is to ensure that all children can access a range of fun learning resources suited to their needs whatever they may be. n

W: www.inspiringkidsworld.com

IG: @inspiringkidsworld

FB: Inspiring Kids World

They also have a set of ‘how do you feel? Colouring pages’ that serve as a great learning resource for children, helping to encourage conversations about their feelings and

products that would hold their attention and stimulate young minds

Maxine Lewis founded Inspiring Kids World in 2020

Apprentice star Bianca Miller-Cole launches new skincare solution for busy women

Her Hian Skin product is the latest venture in an accomplished business career

Millions of people across the UK recognise Bianca Miller-Cole following her 2014 appearance as a contestant on hit BBC show The Apprentice.

But her success on the show, - she was a runner up in the 2014 final - was just one stop on an impressive entrepreneurial journey that began as a child when she would sell her paintings and organise under 18s events earning herself a decent profit.

Before appearing on The Apprentice, she launched her first company in her early 20s. The Be Group which provides personal branding consultations to professionals, now boasts an impressive list of clients such as HSBC, Facebook, BT and Google to name a few.

Although the show catapulted her to national prominence, she struggled with the aftermath of being perceived as a reality TV celebrity.

“I wanted to be perceived as a serious business person” she recalls. “So I almost had to rebrand and remind people that I had a business two and a half years before I went on The Apprentice. I’m not just a reality TV person, I’m actually an entrepreneur.”

Although Miller-Cole missed out on a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, the hosiery brand that she pitched during the final became a reality in 2015 when she launched Bianca Miller London.

Now the entrepreneur has set her sights on a new business venture.

Miller-Cole has launched Hian Skin by Bianca Miller London, a new skincare solution for busy women who struggle with issues such as hyperpigmentation and dark marks.

The product was inspired by her frustration in not being able to find skincare solutions that worked for her.

“I’m someone who has strug gled with my skin since the age of about 14” she reveals. “I’ve tried so many brands and products but none worked consistently. Last year I was doing a juice cleanse in Thai land and that made think that I really needed to start thinking about what I was putting into my body.

“So I decided to start a natural skincare brand, one that was made in the UK, with naturally sourced ingredients that actually tackles consistently the is sues that most people face, such as hyperpigmentation, excess oil, dryness, acne and scarring.”

WOMAN AT THE TOP Bianca

Miller-Cole

Miller-Cole adds: “I found it so frustrating that everywhere I’d look on Instagram and social media for skincare solutions would involve 25 steps. Who has time for that? I’m a busy person so I wanted to create a skincare solution that only has three steps and that works constantly.”

The entrepreneur, has decided to document the launch of Hian Skin in a YouTube series aimed showing aspiring entrepreneurs what is involved in launching a product.

She worked with online freelancer platform Fiverr to launch the series called From The Ground Up: Building A New Business.

“I think what often happens is that entrepreneurs often don’t share the journey of how a business is created, the ups and downs, until it’s successful” she says of the series. “For me its about sharing as much as I can so that people

who are nervous about starting a business can feel encouraged like they can do it too.”

This desire to share her business knowledge has seen Miller-Cole mentor over 500 entrepreneurs to achieve six and seven-figure profits in their businesses.

She has also shared her insights through critically acclaimed books co-authored with her husband Byron. A third book, Rich Forever, will be published in October.

“Seeing others go from a concept to reality, allowing them to achieve their commercial goals, and seeing their lives change as they scale their businesses always fills me with such excitement” she says. “I think it’s this idea that you can be the master of your own destiny, you can make your dreams happen.”

“I was approached by Fiverr to work with them on a project but I pitched them this idea instead. I suggested we use expert freelancers on their platform to help me build this new brand and showcase how anyone can use Fiverr to build a business. Thankfully they loved the idea.

She is expanding her Bianca Miller London product range with a new skincare solution called Hian Skin aimed at busy women struggling with issues such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, dark marks, anti-aging, skin imbalance, and skin texture, issues that she herself often struggled with.

What makes this launch different from others she has done previously is she has decided to document every stage of the process and turn it into a You Tube series called From The Ground

Up: Building A New Business.

The series, which includes episodes on building a social media presence for a new product, display advertising and developing a diverse sales strategy, is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who may be hesitant to take the decisive step of setting up a business, she used the exposure to launch her hosiery brand ‘Bianca Miller London’ which became a reality in 2015. Her success as an entrepreneur has led to recognition on various prestigious lists such as the ‘Forbes 30 under 30’ and the Financial Times’ ‘Top 50 Future Leaders’. Her latest business venture, Hian Skin, is a skincare solution aimed at busy women with skin-related issues. n

www.biancamillerlondon.com

Its about sharing as much as I can...

This desire to share her business knowledge has seen Miller-Cole mentor over 500 entrepreneurs to achieve profits

Georgina Fihosy

Culturally reflective cards

Iam the proud owner of AfroTouch Design an African-inspired paper goods and lifestyle brand that produces Afro-luxe personal stationery, greeting cards, and gift items that showcase West African designs.

I started what was known at first as Special Touch Designs whilst I was on maternity leave, I was searching for a greeting card for a friend that was culturally reflective. I couldn’t find anything online or on the high street, so I decided to get some African fabric, a piece of card, and put something together myself. My friend loved it. At my son’s 1st birthday party, I set a small table at the back of the hall and sold Valentine’s Day cards to our friends and family – they were a huge hit and I just kept going from there. The business has grown so much. I’ve gone from one or two sales a month on Etsy to being stocked in major high-street retailers such as Waterstones, John Lewis, and Selfridges in just under 7 years.

I’m a British-born Nigerian and a proud mum of

3 beautiful children. I was brought up by a proud Ni gerian mother who instilled in me that I could do or be whatever I wanted in life, all I had to do was put in the work! That message has stayed with me. By day I inhabit the corporate world as a pharmacist working within the pharmaceutical industry. I run AfroTouch in and around my family and working life.

One of my missions has always been to try to break down the diversity barrier within the greeting card industry and create a buying option on the high street for people looking for culturally reflective cards. We live in such a diverse nation, and we all want to feel a sense of belonging, I hope my cards and products help to do that. n

AfroTouch Design

W: www.afrotouch.design

E: hello@afrotouch.design

T: +44 (0) 208 798 2645

of African Fragrances The future

Abiodun Balogun, born and raised in Deptford, South London, launched Alade Perfume in the winter of 2020, October 2021 saw the release of two limited edition perfumes from their private collection.

A Lions Kiss and 7pm In Lagos.

The monumental duo represents African culture and heritage in a way never seen before in fragrance. A Lions Kiss is smooth and consistent with a powerful dry down & 7pm In Lagos is vibrant, well executed and innovative. The Private Collection is limited, and only 250 bottles of each beautiful scent has been created.

Social media handles are as follows:

IG: @ALADEPERFUME @ALADEPERFUME

Game-changing opportunities for the community

Jamii is the home for Black creators and makers. An online marketplace for British brands on the up, a discount card for savvy spenders. We make Black creators easier to discover and shop. And behind the scenes, we have worked with organisations such as Airbnb, Lloyds Bank, Pinterest and Clear Channel UK to showcase the ingenuity of Black entrepreneurs and create game-changing opportunities for the community.

When we began in August 2016 with a website and 25 partnered businesses, we were simply a discount card. An incentive for shoppers to go off the beaten track and discover talented Black makers. In the seven years since the ‘Jamii card’ is still our flagship - but we have evolved into a multifaceted platform that makes meaningful moves towards economic empowerment.

Discover talented Black makers

Since the launch of our first-ever pop-up shop in August 2020, we have hit the high street over five times. Our pop-ups are filled to the brim with Black-owned businesses; retail opportunities for Black makers are often few and far between, and so creating this visibility - and not to mention the convenience for loyal customers - is always a game-changer.

In May 2022, we left London for the first time and launched a pop-up in the heart of Birmingham, with the backing of Lloyds Bank.

The week-long residence had a brilliant reception from the local community and was covered by the press such as ITV News Central. Working meaningfully with organisations that share our values is how we can create so many opportunities for Black makers.

We closed out 2021 with a three-week Christmas pop-up, sponsored by Airbnb, that transformed a space in Shoreditch into a

gift shop destination fuelled by Black-owned businesses. We reached out to Airbnb again in November 2022 for a donation to our See It Through grant fund: this £20,000 pot helped four Black-owned businesses with a boost through the difficult economic times. We will shortly be catching up with the grant winners to see how the fund has helped them.

Putting the spotlight on some of the makers in our network, we marked Black History Month 2022 with a monumental collaboration with now-closed homeware marketplace MADE. Our pop-up partnership lit up their London showroom and featured five Black creators in home decor, from African print lampshades to handcrafted art.

This was what a real Black British living room looks like. Since 2021, we have also established an impactful partnership with media organisation Clear Channel UK, which runs out-of-home advertising for companies across the country.

February 2023 saw the launch of our second competition to give free outdoor advertising to ten Black-owned businesses. With high street adverts out of reach of many businesses’ budgets, this competition boosts their marketing efforts while celebrating what they have to offer.

The initiative received over 350 applications and the final winners demonstrate the

sheer level of innovation abundant in the Black community. Winners included grooming brand Aaron Wallace, sustainable shoe brand Elliott footwear, and flexible shift app Slinger Staff.

Matter movement. According to the findings we collected in autumn 2022, almost 70% of respondents feel they lack resources to help them see through uncertain financial times, and over 80% saw no sales growth from 2021 to 2022.

With a desperate lack of data about Black entrepreneurs and their experiences, research like this is crucial to connect the dots and enable the relevant support to be delivered.

It is already known that Black entrepreneurs have lower access to tools that are deemed vital indicators of business success, such as professional networks and free business advice; our report can be a springboard for better efforts to improve this accessibility, and we are looking to partner with key institutions to get this support off the ground. The full report is available at lovejamii.com/report.

The adverts will go live in locations across the UK from May. In April 2023, we released a report on how Black British business owners expect to be impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and impending recession.

This was our second report, after our 2020 Black Pound Day Report that examined consumer spending with Black-owned businesses during the second wave of the Black Lives

As for upcoming plans, this summer Jamii will hit the road for our first-ever marketplace in Bristol, in collaboration with St Paul’s Carnival.

Most of our retail initiatives until now have happened in London - but this year, we want to spotlight the Black communities around the country.

Bristol has a proud Black presence, so on the weekend after Windrush Day, we’ll drop into Bristol town centre to hold a market with 30 local makers. Our mission is to create spaces and opportunities for Black British makers. We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s achievable, and there is much more to come. n

Website: lovejamii.com

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

A Lifestyle Brand That Encourages Dreaming, Discovering, and Exploring

TrueVie, a mixed British and French lifestyle brand, was founded in 2016 with a mission to create unique, quality pieces that resonate with everyday life. The brand’s name, TrueVie, is a combination of “True Life” in English and “Vie” which means life in French. Inspired by the notion that life is too short to waste, TrueVie encourages its customers to dream big, explore their potential, and discover new experiences.

The story behind TrueVie is both inspiring and personal. The brand’s founder, who was stabbed while trying to save a friend, realized that life is precious and can be taken away at any moment. This experience led him to create something meaningful and positive, which is how TrueVie came to life.

Initially, the brand started with T-shirts and jumpers, but it quickly expanded into a wide range of products, including hats,

tracksuits, socks, jackets, and more. As the brand grew, it became more than just a clothing line. It became a community that promotes diversity and provides opportunities for people, especially the youth, to engage and connect with one another.

TrueVie’s message of Dream, Discover, and Explore has resonated with many individuals and has attracted a celebrity following, including Big Narstie, Central Cee, NSG, Nafe Smallez, and many others. The brand has also been featured in GQ magazine and American company Bluemagazine for its new normal collection, which aimed to uplift individuals during the pandemic.

TrueVie has become a lifestyle brand that represents real-life situations and encourages individuals to push past adversity to achieve their dreams. The brand’s mentoring programs and support for young dream chasers have allowed many to find their way and pursue their goals.

In conclusion, TrueVie is more than just a brand; it’s a community that promotes positivity, diversity, and the pursuit of dreams. By supporting TrueVie, you not only get quality clothing but also become part of a movement that encourages individuals to live their best lives. So, dream, discover, and explore with TrueVie. n

Breaking barriers and transforming culture

CasildART is on a mission to showcase Black art and its connection with heritage

Are you passionate about supporting Black visual arts and empowering artists to succeed? Then look no further than CasildART, a dynamic Black-led social enterprise based in Lambeth, south London.

CasildART was founded by Sukai Eccleston, a creative visionary, who saw a gap in the market for Black artists to be represented in commercial galleries and museums. With a background in broadcast media, film and TV licensing, and digital marketing, Sukai uses her artistic and business skills to empower new and emerging Black artists to monetize their work through various channels and online marketplaces, navigate contractual agreements and successfully manage their careers.

WOMAN OF VISION: Sukai Eccleston,

at connecting Black audiences to their history through the visual arts as well as inspiring young people to consider the field as a viable career path.

It organises pop-up exhibitions and talks programmes that showcase the latest works by Black artists across a variety of platforms.

Other events such as corporate exhibitions are curated around specific themes like Black History Month and International Women’s Day.

It’s often been said that the power of art lies in its ability to broaden our horizons and introduce us to new ideas and concepts.

But that’s not all. Sukai’s work is centred around celebrating the joy and beauty she sees within Black people and finding disruptive ways to showcase contemporary Black art to a wide range of audiences.

Her vision is to increase the visibility of Black contemporary art and stories and make them an integral part of the UK’s mainstream visual arts sector.

CasildART has also produced several innovative projects aimed

This is an idea that is central to the work that CasildART does. By supporting this social enterprise, you are not only supporting Black artists, you are helping to make the UK’s visual arts sector a more welcoming and diverse place for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Join CasildART in its mission to make a difference. n

W: www.casildart.com

IG: @africanartfinder

IG: @casildart_contemporary

T: @casildart

PHOTO CREDIT: Lewis Patrick

The primary goal of the Black Tri Tribe is to create a safe and inclusive space for BAME POC to come together, have fun and enjoy the sport. Where cycling communities, running communities and running communities can all share as one. This is also an opportunity to unit all the walking/hiking groups that have been taking place in silos to create community cohesion.

The organization welcomes individuals from all fitness backgrounds, regardless of their previous physical fitness or no level of physical fitness. The events are aimed at everyone. There are distances catered for those looking to get active for the first time to have some fun! Our first event will be on the 03.06.23 in Brighton in a heated lido.

One of the essential aspects of the Black Tri Tribe is its focus on community cohesion and togeth erness. The organization organizes various events, training sessions and guided walks all across the UK. This is there to create a space for BAME POC to experience activities without prejudice, judgement, or cultural barriers.

We know the importance of promoting diversity and representation within the sport of triathlon but also acknowledge the limited representation in swimming, cycling, and running respectively. The organization has a diverse team of leaders who are responsible for organizing activities and events that reflect the various interests and experiences of its members. This is a club made up of Asian, African, and Caribbean leadership and we intend to keep our communities at the focus of our progress.

The organization also recognizes the importance of mental health and self-care, especially in the wake of racial trauma and systemic oppression. Members of the Black Tri Tribe are encouraged to prioritize their mental and physical health, and the organization provides resources and support in this regard.

One of the primary goals of the Black Tri Tribe is to promote health and fitness within the Black and Brown community. The club believes that triathlon is not just a sport but a lifestyle, and that participating in athletic activities leads to a healthier, happier and more fulfilled life. Therefore, the club’s activities are

The Black Tri Tribe is a community that aims to promote unity, empowerment, and social justice among individuals who identify as Black and Minority Ethnic, People of Colour (BAME) (POC). The organisation was founded in 2022 by Kelly Smith due to the lack of engagement seen by BAME POC in the National Governing Body diversity and inclusion reports written in 2022.

always geared towards promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. In addition to regular training sessions and races, the Black Tri Tribe also organizes social events to foster a sense of community amongst its members.

The Black Tri Tribe’s training program is designed to cater to all levels of fitness and experience. The club offers regular training sessions for swimming, cycling, and running, as well as strength and conditioning workouts. The training sessions are organized by experienced coaches who work with members to develop personalized training plans to help them reach their goals and support those who wish to enter into triathlon events.

Participating in the Black Tri Tribe’s training program not only improves members’ physical fitness but also their mental strength. Members learn to push through physical and mental barriers, developing resilience and determination. Triathlon requires not only physical fitness but also mental fortitude, and the Black Tri Tribe helps its members develop both.

In conclusion, the Black Tri Tribe is a community that aims to promote unity, empowerment, and representation within swimming, cycling, running, and waking/hiking for BAME POC. The organisation provides a safe and inclusive space for people to come together, share their experiences, and support each other through various initiatives and activities. The Black Tri Tribe is committed to promoting diversity, representation, mental health, and self-care within the organisation and the broader community. n

YouTube: The Black Tri Tribe

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON AT OUR SHOWCASE EVENT IN BRIGHTON SEA LANES LIDO ON 03.06.23

We intend to keep our communities at the focus of our progress

Join hundreds of business owners at UK’s biggest women focused summer business exhibition in Essex, London

Connecting hundreds of businesses to thousands of customers

barriers and creating growth paths for Women of Colour led businesses across the UK and environs. The vision is to build a strong community. To see all Women of colour led businesses attain their full potentials at the global level.

Her platform has recorded 18 successful networking events which includes business exhibitions, business brunches, online webinars and Christmas balls - an annual event strategically put together at the end of the year in celebrating women from all walks of life and their achievements with amazing testimonials from both their exhibitors and attendees.

The multitalented entrepreneur was recently selected as a finalist by the prestigious Women4Africa Awards in the ‘Business Woman of the Year’ and ‘Woman in Diversity and Inclusion categories’. She has also been listed in Women4Africa ‘2023 Gold List’ which features most inspirational, driven women leaders.

Her Connect Hub is now known to be the biggest women focused platform connecting women of colour led businesses through networking events.

Adebukola Salau who is also known as Arewah, is a passionate and committed entrepreneur. She says, “I decided to create Her Connect Hub because It saddens me when I see talented people that are not appreciated for their efforts.”

We have a lot of entrepreneurs in our local communities struggling to make ends meet. I know a lot of talented mothers and young individuals that have taken the bulls by the horns and decided that they want to start their own business, but due to lack of exposure a lot have given up on their dreams and settled for less.

I know a lot of working mothers building

their businesses along with their family but lack exposure. Wouldn’t it be nice if they too can get needed exposure?

Her Connect Hub is currently a UK platform with the vision of gaining global presence for women of colour in business and career.

It is a platform where women support each other and develop skills for thriving in businesses, careers and daily living.

We are currently operating through webinars, networking events, investments opportunities, career masterclasses, and partnerships.

Her platform launched in 2018 with the mission to be at the forefront of breaking

She says “My dream is to have a global presence where women begin to think of wealth acquisition to creation, sustainability, investment, economic development, self improvement and legacy”. n

Let’s work together.

Connect with us

Phone: +44 7475 436819

Website: www.herconnecthub.com

Email: info@herconnecthub.com

Email: events@herconnecthub.com

Instagram: @herconnecthub

Facebook: her connect hub

YouTube: her connect hub

FOUNDER: Adebukola Salau

WOMEN IN BUSINESS AT: Her Connect Summer Exhibition, 2022

POSING: Some of HCH Team members

FEEDBACK: from one of our amazing exhibitors

WE CARE SUSTAINABLE LIVING: Your One-Stop-Shop for Ethical and Natural Products

In today’s world, more and more people are becoming aware of the impact their daily choices have on the environment. And with the rise of eco-friendly living, consumers are looking for sustainable alternatives to their everyday products.

That’s where We Care Sustainable Living comes in - an on-line store that offers a wide range of ethical, natural, and organic products to promote sustainable living.

At We Care Sustainable Living, we care about people and the planet. Our mission is to make it easier for you to shop consciously by providing high-quality prod ucts that are harmless to both human health and the environment. We believe that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a way of life, and we are committed to making a difference by promoting sustainable on-line shopping.

Our product range includes everything from household essentials to personal care items, all sourced from reputable and eco-conscious brands

We understand that finding an on-line shop that solely provides eco-friendly products can be challenging. That’s why we have made it our goal to make sustainable living accessible and convenient for everyone.

Love Your Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the world’s most versatile and eco-efficient plants, yet it is often over-

looked in our everyday lives. Our mission with Love Your Bamboo, is to change that by promoting the many benefits of this amazing plant and building a community of bamboo lovers who care about the impact it can have on our environment.

Our bamboo collection includes a variety of products, such as toothbrushes, cotton buds, bamboo flasks, and much more. All of our products are made from high-quality, sustainable bamboo and are designed to be both practical and beautiful.

By joining the Love Your Bamboo community, you’ll not only be making a positive impact on the environment but also supporting a company that cares about sustainability. We believe that together, we can make a difference and change tomorrow’s world for the better. So why not join us today and start loving your bamboo!

Jawreh organic skin care Moisturiser and soap

Are you looking for a natural skincare product that works wonders for all skin types? Our unique formula is made with shea butter, essential oils, and vitamins A, E, and K, providing your skin with the essential nutrients it needs to maintain its natural beauty.

Jawreh Organic Skin Care is not just a moisturiser or a soap, but also has anti-aging properties that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They are also highly effective in treating a variety of skin diseases, including eczema and blemish-prone skin. Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients and switch to Jawreh Organic Skin Care for a healthier, more natural approach to skincare. n

T: 020 3151 4826

E: info@wecaresustainable.co.uk

W: www.wecaresustainable.co.uk

IG: We Care Sustainable Living

Time for culture T

here’s rum. And then there’s Kromanti tamarind spiced rum. Sourced in the Caribbean, distilled and flavoured with dried botanicals in the UK. The David family see history, tradition and ancestral folklore in Caribbean rum; Kromanti captures the practices passed down for generations.

The origins of Kromanti Rum started one day in the middle of the world famous Rum Festival. co-founder Cashain David was stood in the middle of the hall having a great time, and had a sudden realisation that past the liquid, the stories presented didn’t speak to the liquid’s origins amongst Carib bean communities; they manipulated it. And in do ing so, they distorted what the drink itself could be.

“None of the rums in this room made sense to me. These were rums repurposed for a White narrative. They eradicated the real story of rum, and in doing that, they help silence the communities behind it. And then I realisedwho else is going to tell that story, but me? This was my moment of truth.”

With a background in Mental Health and experience of supporting identity development, Cashain knew the value of helping individuals to reclaim and tell their own stories. And what began as a personal challenge to mix rums that spoke better to the authentic flavour potential of the drink (via Rum Jelly shots, no less) has grown into a carefully crafted spirit designed to be savoured, rooted firmly in the knowledge and traditional of the Kromanti community.

Realising that he couldn’t do this alone, he enlisted his family into action from social media management through to video production and finally convincing his daughter & co-founder Danielle to join him with her vast experience in Sales and Marketing. Kromanti rum is a way to anchor them - give them real strength - from their culture.

In its first year, Kromanti received an award in the prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition. Shortly afterwards, the business pitched to app developer Bumble to sponsor the filming of a series of intergenerational conversations between members of the Windrush generation and younger family members. The business is very keen to

roll this out to other parts of the UK as they are keen to capture this type of oral history especially in this 75th year of Windrush.

One question often asked is why Tamarind ?

“My family’s island wasn’t rich in water; crops would fail, and children would often go to bed hungry. But the one thing you could rely on was the tamarind tree. You could eat the fruit, use the leaves, infuse it. It just means something to people on an emotional level that even I wasn’t aware of until I was older. When Black people hear about tamarind, they’re suddenly talking about their grandmothers, when they’re next returning home, and memories of tamarind balls. It’s a shared history that just isn’t a part of the current rum world.” Cashain

No more colonial narratives – it’s time for real Caribbean culture. The story of rum is changing hands. n

T: 0800 246 1229

UK BLACK BUSINESS SHOW HITS BIRMINGHAM & LONDON

It’s BACK, and bigger than ever! Returning to Birmingham on the 17th of June and to London from the 2nd to 7th of October, this year’s events are making headlines across the country with the incredible speakers and sponsors already lined up to take part.

Across all the calendar events this year, UK Black Business Show will bring together more than 10,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors and over 200 inspiring speakers.

Speakers this year include Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur, investor, author and podcaster, Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, Journalist and TV Broadcaster, Frank Bruno, Former WBC Heavyweight Boxing World Champion, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, Presenter, and Co-founder, Stemettes, Dr. Tru Powell, Personal Brand Expert and Entrepreneur, Marverine Cole, multi award-winning Journalist, Broadcaster and so many more!

READY TO MAKE WAVES IN THE BLACK BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

With tickets starting from just £30, don’t miss out on the chance to connect, learn and grow! Book your spot now and make history in celebrating Black excellence in business.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 2022: Levi Roots

Leicala Natural Products is an award-winning brand. We won an award in October 2020 for our Mango Body Butter. We specialise in taking care of the natural you by using a range of haircare and skincare products to help our customers look and feel their best. Our vision is to develop skin and haircare products which are free from chemicals and parabens and we are constantly researching natural ingredients to formulate products to add to our existing range.

Our mission is to educate our customers about the benefits of using natural skincare products and our vision is to create and develop skin and haircare products which are free from chemicals and parabens.

The brand Leicala is enriching. Our goal is to ensure a feeling of enrichment and empowerment is felt by our valued customers and all the communities we exist.

Leicala is passionate about giving back to the community. During the pandemic, we managed to raffle off a basket of our products to raise money to buy tablets for Richmond Gap Infant and Primary School, in St. Thomas, Jamaica. We were fortunate to receive donations from within the diaspora which enables us to supply the school with seventeen tablets.

FB: www.facebook.com/LeicalaNaturalProducts

IG: www.instagram.com/@leicalas

W: www.leicala.co.uk

We have a range of haircare and skincare products to help our customers look and feel their best

Vee was made redundant from a full time role over 10 years ago and started her business on just £100. A mother of 4, she is a sought after, multi award winning Brand and Marketing Practitioner who runs an agency that helps business owners promote their brands consistently online and offline.

Vee had next to nothing when she finally decided to become her own boss. Prior to that, she’d worked as a Brand and Marketing Director for various well known companies, managing brands and their marketing campaigns, for over 16 years. The idea of starting up was one she’d been toying with for years, but she had been too scared to

take the leap.

Vee had many naysayers telling her to get a ‘proper job’ but she decided to ignore them and press on with her £100. Years later, she is so glad that she did. Applying her knowledge and Brand and Marketing qualifications she had attained over the years proved successful. Vee was able to attract customers and media opportunities by staying authentic, visible and consistent. She used a range of marketing tactics and social media, to grow her business.

And this is what she enjoys doing now, working as well as coaching and training other business owners on evenings and weekends,

to get results and grow their businesses too.

“I am proud to say that I’ve helped hundreds of black business owners grow their business. Not just via my online coaching and consulting services, but with our training and social media management services too.”

With over 600 reviews online from happy clients she must be doing something right! If you’re looking for clarity on how to build your brand with confidence or you need someone who will help you get results in your business, speak to Vee! She has over 26 years of experience in building memorable, authentic brands and promoting them using effective online and offline tactics. Visit:

proud to say that

I’ve helped hundreds of black business owners

Meet Vee Roberts, the woman who can help you promote your business with confidence and consistency!

Spring Clean Curls

Get your Curls Summer-Ready and treat yourself to some spar days for your curls!

With one of our haircare collections we have just the right products for you - on sale. Grab your favorite brand before it's gone!

JellyBean for the small self-confident kids or As I Am for the woman who loves her hair. These are just 2 brands available from our high-quality range. We have the best matching products to your curls and coils.

Don't lose a limb to diabetes!

Every twenty seconds someone undergoes an amputation Do you need to take care of your feet? It's worthwhile seeing a podiatrist to get professional advice.

Contact me for professional advice on your foot, ankle or lower limb. I am HCPC registered and can help with conditions, such as:

Diabetic Feet

Fungal Nail

Broken Toe

Get in touch today!

Callus

Heel Pain

Foot arthritis

Email: consultation@deidrewardlenebramble.com

@mixed_hair4u

ANASTASIA MINVIELLE FLOWERS

Anastasia is a floral atelier that uses the best tropical and European flowers. Her values lie in sustainability and ecofriendliness

Committed to exceptional customer service, whether it's for a special occasion or to honour the memory of a loved one.

Flowers are hand picked, and specially conditioned for each order

Enquire now, place an order and experience their beauty.

Understanding the law

Darren J. Sylvester is a qualified barrister (England & Wales) and a qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with over 19 years’ experience in criminal and civil litigation. Darren practises in the areas of professional negligence, civil litigation, consumer law, charity law, travel law, and private client matters.

Darren is an advocate of Alternative Dispute Resolution and has been involved in many forms of ADR to bring cases to a resolution.

Darren founded DJS Law Solicitors in April 2016, is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association of England & Wales and co-authored How to Start a Law Firm – A Practical Guide to Offering Legal Services that was published by the Law Society of England & Wales in October 2020 (see How to Start a Law Firm – Law Society Bookshop).

Darren regularly speaks and writes on all areas of law, and has had articles published in The New Law Journal; The Law Society Gazette and the Solicitors’ Journal.

DJS Law Solicitors specialises in contentious and non-contentious civil litigation and professional negligence disputes, specifically acting for clients who have been let down by poor professional services, or advice

Darren J. Sylvester LL.B. (Hons), PgDPLS, MPNLA Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (Non-Practising)

is key in business

We act for businesses, individuals and charities and can help you resolve your claims against most professionals, including an architect, accountant, barrister, financial advisor, solicitor, surveyor or valuer, to list but a few.

Outside of our firm’s specialism, we also have expertise in:

• alternative dispute resolution

• change of name deeds

• charity law

• commercial disputes

• consumer law

• landlord and tenant

• lasting powers of attorney

• swearing statutory declarations and affidavits

• travel claims

• wills, probate and estate administration

We offer easy, efficient and cost-cutting legal solutions to your legal problems and pride ourselves on offering every client value for money and affordable services.

Our Caribbean Legal Services offering means we can partner with barristers and solicitors throughout the Caribbean to provide cost-effective solutions to common issues such as title to land, dealing with adverse possession of property, and wills, probate and inheritance matters. n

For further information, or if DJS Law Solicitors can assist you, please contact us:

E: info@djslaw.co.uk

T: 01992 300845

W: www.djslaw.co.uk

T: @djslawltd

Google reviews - djs law - Google Search

“DJS Law Solicitors – Intriguingly Different; Reassuringly Familiar”

Eman with Purpose

Emmanuel is a renowned, financial adviser, media personality, wealth building entrepreneur and international speaker.

Emmanuel grew up on a council estate in Tower Hamlets, East London and dreamed of working in one of the skyscrapers in Canary Wharf which he could see from his bedroom window. “My mum always used to tell me off if I left the lights on in the kitchen. That always got on my nerves. I thought ‘Why am I getting told off for leaving the lights on when I look out of my window at night time, see Canary Wharf and there are like 100 floors with the lights on?’

“That kind of motivated me to want to work in Canary Wharf because I thought ‘must be money over there.”

Coming from humble beginnings, Emmanuel held on to his deep care for the plight of everyday people and business owners. He’s driven to help people avoid the mistakes that often lead them into difficulty and frequent poverty cycles, culminating in the creation of his company The Eman Effect UK, dedicated to providing financial education to the young people and underrepresented members of society.

After getting a job as a cashier with Barclays, he quickly became a financial advisor and worked his way up to becoming, at 22,

one of the bank’s youngest financial advisors. But following his success, he couldn’t resist the desire to start his own business.

“I realised that my job involved me making rich people richer. I wanted to help people that come from poorer backgrounds.”

Emmanuel’s passion, determination and heart for the people has led to him being featured in The Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The I Newspaper, The Voice and The Express newspapers, and invited to speak as an expert guest on BBC Radio and LBC on multiple occasions.

Emmanuel is a fully qualified financial adviser through the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and also hold a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich. He has over 15 years’ experience in this area.

His career highlights include:

• Since inception of The Eman Effect UK, providing financial education to over 30,000 people

• Television Presenter on Channel 4’s tv series Save Well, Spend Better (2019) & Secret Spenders (2021)

• Finance expert appearances on BBC’s Watchdog, Rip Off Britain, Your Money & Your Life, Morning Live, ITV’s This Morning and Good Morning Britain

• Holding financial education seminars at schools, colleges and universities including Cambridge University, Warwick University, Birmingham University and Hertfordshire University to name a few.

• Holding financial education seminars and workshops for corporates including Experian & Accenture

• Leading corporate campaigns for clients such as Amazon, Compare The Market, Virgin, Asda & Aldi

Emmanuel is also a School Governor for Rivermead Inclusive Trust, where his role entails overseeing the financial performance of 3 schools and 2 specialist provision centres. He makes sure school resources are well distributed and accounted for, while also improving the performance of the school and driving systemic change in how the schools operate.

Emmanuel has a passion for helping people, and his vision is to help people on a mass scale, providing a global source of motivation and education in financial independence. n

EMMANUEL ASUQUO

Independent Financial Adviser

• Founder of the Eman Effect

• Mentor

• School Governor

https://emmanuelasuquo.com/

My vision is to help people on a mass scale, providing a global source of motivation and education in financial independence

Natural products for

long life

Established over two decades ago at its flagship Brixton Hill base, Pempamsie has developed a holistic haven specialising in an eclectic mix of natural health and beauty products, art and jewellery, books, gifts and much more. The name signifies ‘strength through unity’ and the group prides itself on building ties with communities, supporting many small suppliers and other small businesses both locally and abroad.

With 4 branches of holistic health stores across London (the 5th soon opening in Harlesden), Pempamsie stores have on offer a wide selection of hand-picked natural health aids and supplements, hair, skin, and well-being products. Not to mention tailored services such as healthcare consultations and advice on all types of hair and skin care.

The team look forward to welcoming you in-store (and online) to provide you with their full range of products and services including:

• Health consultations

• Herbal remedies

• Holistic Body scans

• Quality natural vitamins and minerals

• Crystals and semi-precious gemstones

• Sulphate & paraben free health and lifestyle products

• Bespoke picture framing services

• A wide selection of black interest books

• Jewellery and gifts

• Afrocentric arts, prints and crafts

• Spiritual wellbeing products

• Great customer service with knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Contacts: 020 8671 0800

www.instagram.com/pempamsieltd

Belver Accounting and Business Services Ltd are a firm of professional Chartered Accountants with Offices in Brighton and Leeds. We are a digital firm hence we able to take clients nationwide. We specialise in working with small to medium-size businesses, charities, individuals, and the self-employed to grow their business. We offer a full range of accounting, tax and business advisory services at affordable fixed or flexible rates, depending on the agreement with clients; no hidden fees.

Belver Accounting and Business Services are run by Oliver Tatsa and Rigobel Fokou. We have together over 30 years of accounting and business experience to benefit our clients.

Aspirations for the future

Our business clients come from a wide range of sectors, from small start-ups to established companies.

We also work with charities and individuals on their personal accounting and take pride in offering professional, personal and high-quality service. Although our business is growing, our core principles remain the same; to provide up-to-date relevant accountancy, tax and business advisory services. Belver Accounting and Business Services Managing Partners are full members in practice, regulated by The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) which is a leading global accountancy body and member of the IFAC.

Our role is more than simply number-crunching. It’s about developing relationships with our clients so that we can fully embrace their business goals and aspirations for the future – only this way can we develop the in-depth understanding needed to help them achieve their ambitions.

Every client is important to this firm. We will always strive to maintain the right relationship with you, based on trust, professionalism and commitment. Our team members take great pride in their work and the relationships they build by supporting and promoting the highest ethical, governance and professional standards.

It is true that the success of any relationship depends equally on both parties. The majority of our clients are SMEs which tend to be owned by passionate individuals with a genuine desire to build an open, long-term relationships with their advisors. Personality is key for us. n

If this sounds like the kind of relationship you want to enjoy with your advisors, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us:

T: 07947228371

T: 07947172320

E: admin@belveraccounting.com

W: www.belveraccounting.com

Meet the UK’s first African-focused

tattoo

South London based Inkwa Tattoos is changing the industry through its focus on Black culture and heritage

Inkwa, based in Sydenhams, is the first tattoo studio in the UK to boldly and unapologetically promote African art and culture through its creative output.

Founder Rob Lawrence, was inspired to start the business with his wife Tamar after noticing a lack of tattoo designs that reflected his cultural background as well as a dearth of Black tattoo artists in the industry.

“I got my first tattoo in Brighton back in 2009 and it was my first experience in a tattoo shop” he recalls. “From there I got tattoos in various shops. But I often noticed that there wasn’t much African-inspired tattoo art in most places I went to. After I got a tattoo done that I designed I realised I wasn’t happy with it. That made me think ‘If they can’t execute my work, then surely I can’.”

Rob launched Inkwa in 2014 and it now serves people from a wide range of backgrounds and lifestyles.

The company’s growth since then is a testament to his dedication, creativity, and passion to represent and celebrate African culture through the tattoos that Inkwa produces.

Like most entrepreneurs, Rob has faced a number of challenges running his business.

“In business, as in life, nothing goes according to plan, so flexibility and patience are two virtues which are essential to calming one’s mind” he says. “The loneliness of running a business can be exhausting, but when this is realised it’s usually time to come up for air and take a breather.”

Inkwa has reached several significant business milestones since it was launched.

“Amongst the proudest moments for us are when we have a young person say for example ‘I came in with my mum and dad and I only want to come here to get my first tattoo’. To us, that’s powerful for someone that young to keep us in their mind as the ones who should share that moment with them.”

The company’s future is bright, according to Rob.

“We’re focusing on achieving sustainable and manageable growth, improving our craft, and creating spaces where people can practice their craft in peace” he says. n

FOUNDER: Rob Lawrence

Make your dream home a reality

My name is Sellasie Humado, I am 33 years old and the founder of Mado Homes. I was born in Ghana and came to the UK at a young age. I lived in West London, Harrow where grew up for the majority of my teenage years.

I am a father of two amazing and energetic boys (3 and 1 years old) and also a husband.

I spend most of my spare time with my family and do my best to keep up with my fitness by going to the gym 3 times a week. Apart from architecture, I also enjoy good music such as Afro beats and dancing. Socially, I enjoy meeting friends, family, and catching up on life and encouraging each other in our different journeys. At an early age before my passion for architecture, I wanted to be a pilot, which led me to the Royal Air Force as an air cadet. My love for architecture grew when I joined my dad during the summer holidays who is an electrical engineer on various construction projects. I met various industry professionals and trades, including architects, structural engineers, etc. This gave me

an insight into the profession and what it entails. Likewise, I was passionate and enjoyed drawing and making products which helped to encourage and motivate me to become an architect and run my own practice. One fun fact about me is that I am very particular about cleaning and tidying which sometimes annoys my friends and family.

About Mado Homes

Mado Homes is an innovative and multi-disciplinary architectural design practice in the residential sector, serving customers in Surrey, Sussex, London, Berkshire, and the surrounding area. The practice is led by director and founder Sellasie Humado, who has over 10 years of experience in planning and architecture. Together with the support of our excellent team of architects, interior designers, structural engineers, and contractors, we aim to make your dream home a reality. Mado Homes differ from other architectural firms’ conventional practice by challenging boundaries to produce the most unique and exquisite homes, providing excellent client experience. n

Project 1

Location: Woking, Surrey

Our Client appointed us to redesign their home with a new contemporary atrium entrance space, a side extension, loft conversion and remodelling of the internal space.

Project 2

Location: Old Avenue, St George’s Hill, Weybridge

Our client appointed us to design a sustainable and contemporary timber cladding extension to provide additional ground floor space. This extension will have a kitchen, dining, and snug all in one space. Also, the location and orientation of the structure allows the client to enjoy the views, and natural light from their south facing large garden.

Project 3

Location: Guildford, Surrey

Our client appointed us to design a contemporary rear extension which compliments their Victorian detached house. The brief from the client is to create an open-plan kitchen dining space, with lots of storage, and utilise natural light in dark spaces. We also maximise ceiling heights by having a vaulted ceiling and connecting to the rear garden.

PROJECTS:

Unique, different and eco-friendly

Born in Brixton, Syreeta Walker has lived here most of her life. Her grandparents, with Jamaican heritage, lived in Brixton and Tulse Hill for more than 50 years, and parents Johnny and Maureen Walker still live in Brixton.

She also works here, running the Brixton Candle Company (BCC) as part of her very busy life which includes teaching children with special educational needs.

“BCC is a luxury ethical eco-friendly and handmade candle company selling signature wax candles with essential fragrance oil blended in-house.”

Our candles are free from artificial colours and parabens since we use soy wax and essential oil fragrances. They are made in small batches, hand-poured and hand-crafted.

“Fragrances are inspired by the Brixton’s bustling markets” – “an evocative fragrance with notes of hemp, incense and sweet orange. It takes you to the frontline of your senses. it also helps to raise awareness of the visually impaired and those with disabilities. A percentage of all sales go towards Moorfields Eye Hospital Charity.

There’s also an opportunity to donate to the charity for the Organisation of Blind Africans and Caribbeans (OBAC) on the site.

“Scent is a very important sense that is responsible for creating a particular atmosphere,” says Syreeta.

After spending a lot of money on candles,

she decided she wanted candles that were “unique, different and eco-friendly”.

So, she set up her online home-based business in Brixton.

“What I enjoy about living and working in Brixton is the variety, the people the energy and the history and culture.”

“Brixton is in my heritage and culture. I have family members who were in the Brixton riots fighting for my freedom, Brixton means a lot to me.”

“My aim is for the culture to be maintained and remembered through my brand.”

“The slogan is ‘celebrating culture through scent”.

“Brixton and its people are my muse, providing inspiration and celebration in the myriad of cultures that reside here.”

“In the current day where there is much division, there is a unique solidarity here of all races and social classes, which is refreshing to see.” n Contact

Celebrating culture through scent’

Navigating your way to the top

Dr Byron Cole is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, Sunday Times Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Investor, Philanthropist & Business Mentor.

In a career spanning over a decade, he has been involved in over 20 business start-ups as a director or investor and has sold multiple enterprises totalling millions of pounds. Byron currently acts as a business consultant, trainer and mentor to SMEs across various industries. His specialism lies in advising and assisting SMEs to scale to 7 figures.

Byron’s success in business is an authentic ‘rags-to-riches’ story if ever one was told. From growing up on one of the largest council estates in Europe to starting one of his first businesses out of a small office in Surrey, barely large enough to accommodate more than one desk, Byron’s fledgling company grew exponentially and was sold.

Byron is now a Sunday Times best selling author with internationally recognised publishers Penguin Random House and Hodder & Stoughton. Both books tackle an array of topics every entrepreneur will need from marketing, and networking to dealing with stress, anxiety and romantic relationships whilst navigating your way to the top. Byron is now in the process of writing his third and fourth books having signed a deal with Hachette Group.

Byron is a co-chair of the Evolve Housing charity, a charity that helps those that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and provides support and housing for them. They successfully help over 2,000 people a year offering support to each individual ensuring their needs are met.

Byron is the Chair of the Generator Enterprise Advisory Board at Greenwich University, which aims to inspire and encourage students and graduates with new ideas. For Byron nurturing entrepreneurs is important as they have the ability to drive market change.

This year they gave away thousands of pounds to the Enterprise Challenge winners. Byron also manages the speaking engagements and opportunities for his wife and fellow entrepreneur BBC Apprentice finalist Bianca Miller-Cole, giving him a breadth of knowledge relating to TV and media having successfully negotiated brand partnership deals with the likes of Nominet, AMEX, Channel 4, Google, Facebook and many more household names.

Ultimately, Byron is an entrepreneur constantly seeking new opportunities and challenges with the purpose of helping others succeed. n

Marcus Bishop

If you would like more information or to make a booking, please contact: Bianca Cole

E: Bianca@byroncole.uk

T: +44 7732 052354

IG: @mrbselfmade

We aim for perfection in the products we make and the services we provide

A Woman on a Mission

Janet is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur who works with young people and adults demonstrating ways to be more sustainable with fabrics, inspiring creativity through craft workshops focused on using recycled fabric and materials and having the opportunity to talk about common issues and/or experiences, bereavement etc.

With over 30yrs of design and creating experience and 11 years of qualified teaching experience within secondary schools and alternative provisions, she set up her social enterprise Feed My Creative in 2016 as she was frustrated with the education system pushing

students into subjects that they didn’t choose or enjoy and wanted to build a platform for people to be creative without the need to be in a classroom of twenty plus.

Over the years Janet has created mindful creative resources combining textiles and electronics which are not normally accessible outside of a classroom. Working with vulnerable young black males in care, women affected by domestic abuse, people affected by stress, anxiety and other mental health issues, she has been able to format sessions that support their emotional health and wellbeing in creative ways.

She has won many awards and recogni-

tions for the work she has done with Feed My Creative which include Business of the Year, Company of the Year, Precious Awards - Creative Business of the Year, Mumpreneur of the Year as well as being a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2018 she won former Dragons’ Den dragon Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday #SBS competition. She has also been listed as one of 55 inspiring entrepreneurs in the Social Entrepreneurs Index in 2020 and 2022

She launched the RE: PROJECT in 2019 to create a platform for young people to use their creative mind and skill set as an

alternative solution and making handmade toiletry packs filled with full sized branded toiletries that are then donated on to vulnerable people (young mums, homeless, low income families etc). She has successfully managed to gain support from brands such as Palmers, Lush and Treasuretress with product donations and fabric donations from IKEA and fabric from banners used in Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games.

During the Birmingham 2022 Festival she hosted her first week long exhibition called ‘The Chapters of or Lives’. An interactive tactile story telling exhibition where she captured the stories of ten Birmingham based artists, musicians and creatives. It featured photographs that were printed onto fabric and using conductive materials once touched you could hear the story behind each photograph. n

You can find out more about her work on the following platforms: www.linkedin.com/in/janetgdouglas https://gofund.me/ad621975

www.feedmycreative.com

www.instagram.com/feedmycreativecic www.facebook.com/feedmycreative https://jdouglascreativegroup.square.site/ www.instagram.com/jdouglascreativegroup www.facebook.com/jdouglascreativegroup

Tackle social isolation and contribute to improving physical and mental wellbeing

The beauty of diversity

The Little Daya ne brand was co-founded by Haitian-born French author Dayane Dorlys, her daughter Destiny and her sister Johana Petit-Frere in 2019. Inspired by their childhood experiences and created to celebrate African and Caribbean children, Little Dayane is designed to promote the beauty of diversity.

All the products aim to motivate children to develop their self-esteem, self-worth and confidence. Items include children’s story books, magazines, motivational colouring books and fun educational activity books.

I decided to write motivational bedtime stories to help build my daughter’s Destiny’s self-esteem and confidence.

I grew up in the Western world, where it was difficult for me to fit in as a Haitian dark skinned girl; this was accentuated by the fact that I did not have any role models teaching me how to love myself; instead, I was introduced to relaxers and skin bleach.

I hated myself and fell into a deep depression very young. Despite everything I did to fit in, I could not.

Becoming a mother is what helped me search for who I truly am. I discovered my story as a Black Haitian woman. I encountered the beauty of Africa and found my inner

beauty through the strength of my nation. So, I decided to forgive myself, learn about self-love and teach my daughter the same thing.

I noticed how my stories were positively affecting Destiny. I understood that bedtimes are precious moments to insert good messages into our little ones’ minds. It is important to help them develop their self-esteem, encouraging me to publish The Magic Mirror in May 2021.

I hated seeing myself in the mirror for so long because the voice I used to hear told me many unkind things about myself, which were, of course, not true. Publishing The Magic Mirror as my first children’s book is a way for me to make peace with the mirror.

Destiny was born in February 2015 in England. She is a very creative, kind, confident little girl. Since an early age, she has shown compassion for others. She likes to motivate other children… hence why she shares motivational videos on her IG, she also shares creative arts content on YouTube.

Destiny used to be frustrated and wondered why she could not find books, magazines, or dolls that could represent her. She said: “Mummy, if it does not exist, we can make It”. Since the creation of Little Dayane, Destiny has been involved in every activity,

and she is very proud to see her dream come true (“if does not exist, we can make it”). n

Available at : Amazon

Social medias:

Little Dayane Instagram

Little Dayane YouTube Channel

TikTok

Our team have always been central to the delivery of excellent client service

Marcus Bishop

Accounting and business services driving clients towards their goals

Marcus Bishop Associates, Chartered Certified Accountants was formed in June 1995 by David Frederick whilst employed a full-time senior university lecturer. Despite the joys of academia, David had always planned to have his own accountancy practice since starting his accountancy career as a training accountant in September 1983.

However, the biggest challenge David and Marcus Bishop Associates had to overcome, was David had never worked in practice. David had developed his career across the public sector in internal audit and academia. However, in the words of Nelson Mandela, “it is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success.”

Marcus Bishop Associates begun life as general accountancy practice providing accounting and business services to allow clients to focus on driving towards their goals whilst looking after their internal financial maintenance. Within a few years, we added business advisory services to further support our clients. These new services extended our client reach to include supporting clients from local business support agencies across London and SE England. In addition, we delivered these business development services to clients nationally and globally.

Well before team psychology became the new order within organisations, David had established a “we” philosophy within Marcus Bishop Associates. Our team have always been central to the delivery of excellent client service. As such, we are approved training providers for the AAT, ACCA and ICAEW. Since 2005, we have developed into a training beacon for the next generation of accountants.

In 2018, Marcus Bishop Associates further extended its clients services beyond the traditional arena of accountants. We became authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and

Wales (ICAEW) for the provision of non-contentious probate services. This now sits at the pinnacle of our Estate Planning Services. From our office in Sydenham SE London, we continue to help clients transfer intergenerational wealth tax efficiently.

Since 2019, we have provided in person and online estate planning webinars to help raise the awareness about planning for life’s uncertainty (loss of capacity) and certainty (death).

In September 2020, Marcus Bishop Associates founder, David Frederick, became the first Black President of the Association of Technicians (AAT).

As we enter our 28th year, it is never where you start that matters. Hence, our mantra, “it’s not what you EARN that matters, it’s what you get to KEEP and PASS onto your loved ones that really counts.”! n

Marcus Bishop Associates Suite 103

Access Business Centre

3 Stanton Way London SE26 5FU

Tel: +44 (0)208 670 0917

It is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success

Nelson Mandela

Work as agents

Ihave worked in HR and Recruitment for over 15 years and have placed over 10,000 candidates in nationwide roles, across all levels of seniority. I built my recruitment & training empire TH Consultants Recruitment Specialists, after being made redundant in 2019, shortly after pregnancy.TH Consultants was named after my late grandfather Thomas Henry who was an influential part of my life growing up.

As one of the few black, women-owned (successful) tech, construction and automotive industries, recruitment consultancies working tirelessly over the past 4 years with STEM clients, to ensure fair and proper recruitment of

• People of colour

• Women

• LGBTQI candidates

• Disabled candidates

In an industry dominated by white men, I feel it’s important to have champions for the community, who work as agents of change.

In addition to corporate recruitment, I have championed social mobility, by way of;

• CV writing services

- across all levels, from apprentice level to exec

• ensuring diverse recruitment pathways - fair & non-dis criminatory recruitment across all clients, regardless of industry

• pioneering recruitment & training via Government kickstart scheme - emphasis on placing young people (unemployed, not in education) into skilled careers

Being a mother to two boys is by far my greatest achievement, my spare time is spent mentoring young people and giving them the tools they need to land their ideal job.This has involved a dynamic and robust process of employment skills training, assisting candidates with job searching and interview techniques.Last year I was honoured to receive The Business Person of the Year Award.

TH Consultants ltd specialises in recruiting permanent staff across the Technology, Automotive, Engineering, Construction, and Marketing industries.

We pride ourselves in finding the best talent, whilst embracing inclusive recruitment and workplace diversity. n

of change...

If you are a client looking to recruit new staff to join your team or a candidate looking for a new role, then please don’t hesitate to give us a call at: 07947365020 or email me at: Rowenabarclay@thconsultants.co.uk

Follow us on:

T: @rowena_barclay

FB: TH Consultants-Recruitment Specialists

IG: th_consultantsrecruitment

W: www.thconsultants.co.uk

Clubhouse: @thconsultants

I feel it’s important to have champions for the community

‘A brand that exists beyond her years’

Who is Sara Christie?

I am my brand.

BYSARACHRISTIE is an extension of me, my values and my love of using accessories and style as a form of freedom, FEMALE empowerment and expression.

I am a Mum, Designer and an Entrepreneur intent on building a modern heritage brand that is recognizable and exists beyond my years.

I am the woman that helps you to positively, boldly and fearlessly step out with your head held high with the power of accessories, no matter your size, age or personality.

Style in my DNA

My dual heritage; Jamaican and English, is integral to who I am, what I do and how I do it. Driven by where I have come from, seen and given, empowers me to create a beautiful brand that is honest and sustainable.

My grandparents of the Windrush generation have influenced my sense of style and attitude to dressing.

Their style conveyed a sense of self confidence, acceptance and respectability as well as a memory of life left behind.

Never by comparison, money, possessions or wearing the latest fashions. Their style was a way to rise above the stereotype in the face of hostility and to confidently step out with their heads held

high in the face of hostility. I was always told to ‘Luk fi yuh bess an hole fi yuh head high’ It’s this notion that we can empower and elevate ourselves through dress that has shaped my style, what I design and why.

My style is simple and significant

Raised with little money, but plenty of love,

I appreciate and respect the value in Less is More, buying better and really, really wear it.

It explains and affirms why I have a love affair with accessories.

They are game changers

Their importance can never be stressed enough. Accessories are elements that can transform a simple outfit effortlessly.

They extend the life and attitude of your

clothing, giving you endless styling opportunities, that get a second look, powerfully elevating your mood, giving you the confidence to step out like a boss.

Like my grandmother, I am instinctively drawn to classics that can be reimagined, capturing a vibe and an essence of black style that is in my DNA.

The Power of Visibility

Personal representation is important to me because I am used to working in a business that doesn’t look like me. My absence of black representation in school, university and workplace hasn’t gone unnoticed. Stand up, be seen and heard is why personal representation is important to me.

You can’t be what you can’t see

It’s personal and that’s why I am my brand. There is power in showing up. And The UKBBShow is an example of this. Showing up and being seen by The Voice Newspaper gave me the space to be heard. To amplify my voice.

Sustainabilty

Sustainability is important to me.

I have a responsibility like everyone else. My mission is to impact your buying habits, inviting you to take your time, buy less, invest in quality and really really wear it.

Which is why I design pieces that are bold, whilst versatile, timeless in design that transcend seasons, giving you the perfect everyday accessory, designed to last, making them a great investment buy.

My bags are Made to Order

Ordering responsibly to avoid waste is how the Sara Christie bags are being made.

This means we only make exactly what you want.

This eliminates wastage of materials and increases efficiency which are better for our planet.

The success of Made to Order has inspired a new capsule collection called WASTE NOT WANT NOT.

This collection is made from off cuts of leather left over from my mainline collection.

Inspired by our grandparents of Making something beautiful from nothing.

Grow as we go

The past two years have been truly amazing and exciting.

BYSARACHRISTIE has reached the far corners of the globes.

My collections have been picked up and styled in magazines, music video’s, worn by celebrities and loved by both women and men all over.

It feels good.

I want to expand creatively and peacefully by way of connecting and collaborating with other black entrepreneurs and creatives.

It matters to me not to waste my opportunity to follow my dream and build a beautiful brand that is desirable, culturally magnetic and powerful for good, upon the foundations, built brick, by brick by my courageous, spirited ancestors.

Truth is my work is to honor my father, my

grandparents… all people of the Windrush generation and my ancestors. To say thank you for their GRACE, sacrifice and resilience.

Taking Pride in what I do and how I do it matters because it’s how I was raised. It matters to push beyond what is expected of me. It matters to do business my way, to set my own pace and to define success subjectively allowing me freedom from comparison.

I am tapping into hope, positivity and beauty to create a platform to give back and support the next generation. n

From Africa world to the

started to look more closely at what I was eating ingredients were in the cosmetics that I was using.

At the time, the mainstream cosmetics industry was under pressure to release their ingredients to consumers, who were asking similar questions as I was.

It led to my looking back at African traditional beauty treatments, particularly with the use of butters like Shea, Kokum and Mafura, herbs like Chebe, Marshmallow Root and Hibiscus, and oils like Baobab and Marula.

Having spent some time in Sengeal and Gambia, I noticed that a

www.tallchicnaturals.com

lot of women had the most beautiful naturally dark skin and afro hair I had ever seen. I did notice that Baobab featured very heavily in the diet, with a breakfast/party juice made from its powdery seeds.

I also discovered that oil produced from the Baobab fruit is rich in VitaminA, vitamin E and Omega fatty acids, which make it perfect for use on the hair and skin.

Turning to my ancestral origin in Nigeria, where Shea Butter is used a lot, it is no secret that Shea butter is incredibly moisturizing. In places like Chad and Niger, where a Chebe hair mask is used, we at TallChic Naturals have borrowed from the Indian practice of Ayuverda, infusing ingredients found uniquely on the African continent. n

Facebook, Tik Tok, Pinterest and Instagram as: @tallchicnaturals, on Twitter as: @tallchicn.

The woman who is driving diversity and innovation in tech

Annette Joseph MBE has won plaudits for her efforts to make the industry more inclusive

Annette Joseph, MBE, is a trailblazer in the UK tech industry, a woman who is determined to break down barriers and create a more diverse and inclusive sector.

As the founder and CEO of Diverse & Equal, she is spearheading initiatives to open doors for underrepresented individuals in the North of England’s thriving tech scene and beyond.

With over 20 years of experience and numerous accolades, including being named a NW Top 50 Tech Transformers in 2022 and 2023. Joseph is a passionate advocate for “tech for good” and agile practices, all while championing diversity and inclusion.

The organization she founded focuses on equipping individuals from marginalized backgrounds with the skills they need to succeed in tech careers through workshops and bootcamps.

Recognizing the urgent need for change, Joseph’s impactful work has gained widespread recognition. Her medium.com article, “#icantbreathe,” published in June 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, went viral and prompted the launch of initiatives to address the impact of technology on Black communities.

The groundbreaking Racial Diversity in Digital report commissioned by WILD and conducted by Diverse & Equal, has been a

catalyst for transformative action, helping to drive the industry toward greater diversity and inclusion.

Joseph is passionate about challenging the prevailing narrative surrounding diversity and inclusion. She believes it is not just an ethical obligation, but provides companies with also a strategic advantage.

Research has shown that organizations that embrace diversity and create inclusive environments are proven to be more profitable, innovative, and retain top talent.

For Joseph, equity in the tech industry is crucial for everyone’s success. She envisions a future where diverse voices are not just welcomed but valued, where the power of inclusion drives innovation and fosters a sense of belonging.

And her tireless dedication is helping key players in the tech industry to recognize the immense benefits that diversity brings to the sector. Through her work, she is creating a brighter, more equitable future for all. n

. Visit us: diverseandequal.com/annette diversenett.medium.com

@DiverseNett and @DiverseandEqual on

Annette speaking at the launch of Bloomberg Black in Tech EMEA Cohort 3 of D&E’s Agile Immersion Bootcamp (Above center circle pic)

Raymond Gordon is an international florist and award-winning floral designer. As seen on Netflix ‘BigFlowerFight’ series and winner of Episode 2 The Best in Bloom.

Raymond and his team design stunning floral installations for a variety of venues, including stately homes, hotels and restaurants bringing a touch of personality and style to every installation and leaving clients with something unique and memorable.

Using the most beautiful, high-quality seasonal flowers to create aweinspiring floral masterpieces, designs that leave lasting impressions.

Clients include: St James’s Palace Hotel, Mayfair, Lewisham Council Lawrence’s House, Indigo Hotel Group, St Dunstans Private School, Bromley Court Hotel, Olivetti Restaurant Group: Dulwich, Waterloo, Tower Bridge and London Mayfair, to name a few

Passionate about educating and engaging people

INSTALLATIONS

We have unmatched expertise and experience when it comes to creating awe-inspiring flower arrangements and backdrops—creativity is of utmost importance in such installations. Ensuring that the installation fits exactly what you desired, Ray pushes the boundaries of your imagination and infuses your specifications with his own creative mastery, to bring out the best of the flowers and plants.

WORKSHOPS

Raymond is passionate about educating and engaging people beyond the aesthetic beauty of flowers and plants. He offers lunch time floral workshops and away days that encourage teamwork, help reduce stress and that bring out other health and well-being benefits of plants.

Flowers and plants:

• Help concentration and memory

• Accelerate the healing process

• Generate happiness

• Improve human performance and energy

E: raymond.gordonlg@gmail.com

T: 020 8050 1041

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a splash or an established business seeking a fresh new look, we’ve got you covered. Our team of talented web designers and developers will collaborate with you to create a website that not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well. From responsive designs to e-commerce platforms, we tailor our solutions to suit your unique requirements and help you achieve your business goals. Remember, your website must stand out on mobile devices as well as it does on desktops.

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Our sea moss is sourced from Jamaica

www.simplyseamossldn.com

Simply Seamoss Ldn is a UK based Seamoss Company that advocates good health and well-being. We are passionate about making great vegan products for all the family to enjoy at any time.

We pride ourselves on sourcing organic wildcrafted sea moss straight from the Caribbean. All our products are lovingly prepared, fresh to order, either for collection or delivered to your door. We hope you enjoy our products just as much as we enjoy making them, and thank you all for your constant support. We love you, appreciate you, and wish you peace, love and good health.

It’s Official!!

Black History Month Art, Culture and Business Exhibition will take place on the 21st and 22nd of October 2023 at Middleton Hall, Centre Milton K.eynes Registration is now open via our website. There is an early bird discount on stall bookings before 1st July, 2023. Please mark your diaries!

The Black Excellence Awards MK takes place on the 28th of October 2023. Details of this, including nomination criteria will be announced soon. For further details contact: Nana Oguntola Telephone: 07478115668

You are our focus

In 2006, Shireenah Ingram took part in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) award-winning social action initiative ‘Bal let Changed My Life - Ballet Hoo!’ televised on Channel 4. She got a taste of the acting bug which was the foundation for her artistic career. The past 15 years have been filled with self-dis covery, career highs and lows, and life-changing milestones.

Aged 21 Ingram bought her first house, and at 24 took a leap of faith and moved to London to further her career. At 28 she travelled solo to the USA for the first time to see the bright lights of Hollywood and then in 2020, aged 30, suddenly everything is put on hold. Ingram was back to soul-searching - that same place she was in 15 years ago. After a bereavement, Ingram had hit a real low. Little did she know what was around the corner.

At the start of 2021, she became a homeowner again and was ap pointed as a Board Member for BRB. She simultaneously channelled creative experiences into launching her company ‘Red Lens’ – building confidence in the unconfident through 1-to-1 coaching, group acting classes, and digital media consultancy. Ingram says: “I’m optimistic as to what the next 15 years will hold!”

Like most actresses, Ingram is very entrepreneurial. She began working as a background artist and then progressed to featured leading roles. Alongside her acting career, she has worked in children’s entertainment, and as a workshop facilitator, presenter, and motivation and resilience coach. ‘Red Lens’ is a culmination of all her passions and talents - doing what she loves; entertaining and motivating.

Setting up Red Lens was her chance to mentor the masses. Ingram says: “In everyday life scenarios I witness peoples’ interactions and notice there is often a lack of clarity and conviction in their communication style or performance. Communicating in environments outside of our comfort zone is daunting for many. Working as a professional actress and presenter I have learnt the disciplines required to deliver a poised, self-assured and concise performance, every time.” Her ‘Lens on You’ (1-to-1 acting coaching) for non-performers transfers her learning to coach individuals on how to use acting techniques to unlock confidence in areas of their personal and professional lives.

Ingram calls herself a personal trainer of Acting and will be launching the Red Lens Actors G.Y.M - group sessions for beginners to experienced performers to train, build and exercise purpose in performance, improve skills and learn the disciplines required for the performing arts industry.

Ingram says: “Just like we must keep physically fit, these classes will keep you mentally fit, focused and resilient.”

Another division of Red Lens is a digital media ‘Glow Up’ to look at the client’s current digital media content and provide a strategic plan to either update or create new content for a website, social media platforms, and general use. Ingram says: “Nowadays there is a big demand for having standout promotional content to boost online presence and drive traffic to our online platforms. Working on-set, in front and behind the camera, I mastered the art of video production from script writing, camera framing, character direction, through to video editing, and embellishing with special effect graphics and musical accompaniments.”

This allows Red Lens to provide slick, stylised and succinct video editing services that will focus the spotlight on your brand. So, Ingram is calling businesses, individuals, and budding performers to get in touch and book a free consultation. Start to discover the purpose and authenticity of your brand with Red Lens, always pulling focus on you n

T: 07379688287

E: shireenah@red-lens.co.uk

W: www.Red-Lens.co.uk

IG: @PullingFocusOnYou

Red Lens CEO|Founder Shireenah Ingram: Personal Trainer of Acting and Digital Media Consultant

I’m optimistic as to what the next 15 years will hold!

DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS JAMAICAN JAMAICAN JAMAICAN PATTIES PATTIES PATTIES

Port Royal Patties –Flakier and Tastier!

Port Royal, the UK’s number 1 Patty brand, is celebrating 21 years of making authentic Jamaican patties with new and improved recipes and an exciting packaging rebrand! Developed using traditional family recipes and aromatic herbs and spices from the tropical island of their home, Port Royal patties have a golden, flaky pastry crust that crumbles in your mouth. Inside each patty is a spicy filling that transports you to the Caribbean and the vibrant and colourful streets of Kingston, Jamaica. “The increase in demand for Jamaican food products is in line with the growth of the UK food and grocery market, which is estimated by IGD to expand to 14.8% in 2023 and we are proud to play our part. So, whether new or loyal consumers, we’re confident that our true Caribbean, Flakier and Tastier patty will get those tastebuds tingling,” Edward Johnston (Port Royal) The range consists of 9 lines including 3 vegan products, all our patties are halal certified and our vegan patties are vegetarian society approved Our new and improved patties will launch on 24th April and be available to purchase from selected ASDA, Morrisons and Tesco stores. They can also be purchased through major wholesalers and via Port Royal Patties

www.portroyalpatties.co.uk

JoRae Taking Care of Big Hair

Nobody is more excited than us now that leisure pools are open as normal and the holiday season (hot weather) is fast approaching, but one question. Do you and your family have the essential accessory for the swimming pool and water activities? How do you protect your hair or even maintain your hairstyle for that all-important event? Gone are the days when our hair has been a barrier to swim.

We offer a range of swimming caps (5 sizes) and colours (8 colours) for the whole family. We are happy to announce that our new Spring/Summer collection is even brighter so you can be noticed. We selected four colours in our Children’s range so that our caps can be worn to represent school house teams (blue, green, yellow and red) or, perhaps more importantly, your child won’t go unnoticed.

Even if swimming is not your thing - our extra-large shower cap definitely will be! With a drawstring and satin-lined, our shower cap can adjust to a wide range of head sizes and hair volumes for the gym or at home. We still maintain that swimming is a life long skill, and we want to break down any barriers that may stop us from enhancing our health, well-being or self-confidence, so we strive to make it even more acces sible to all.

Last but by no means least, we would like to thank all you Voice readers and customers past, present and future for your unwavering support, whether that be purchasing, sharing our posts, recommend ing us, or even promoting us in the swimming or on the beach - we appreciate all your support. Please continue to follow us on our unique journey. n

Follow us on:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/joraeinsta/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JoRae17/

T: https://twitter.com/jorae17

www.filedoc.co.uk

FILEDOC LIMITED

Best Tech, Best Future

Filedoc are here to ensure your business has access to the latest modern devices, allowing you to work smarter and more efficiently with technology. We have specialist hardware and software solutions for all your business technology requirements. We also support you with our exceptional service experts who are readily available to assist you with installation and maintenance.

Our staff is built on the core of over 40 years industry experience. We have the knowledge to understand the technological problems businesses, like yours, can face. This allows you to analyise your business using the best methods to identify technological challenges, and addressing them as quickly and efficiently as possible within budget.

That’s why, along with our service experts, our customers are the foundation of our business. We work to develop strong lasting customer relationships built on trust. We build on what we do well and are innovative in order to meet the changing needs of customers.

Godfrey Gabriel, our Managing Director, said: “Our aim is to provide you with the best technology solutions ensuring your business is harnessing the latest technology, providing greater working efficiency, productivity and importantly profitability.”

READY FOR US TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOU?

Our skilled team are on hand and ready to utilise the latest hardware and software products to make sure you get nothing but the best and most efficient

solution to meet your exact business requirements, such as:

• Managed Print/Copy/Scan Solutions (desktop to wide format)

• Document management and Workflow Solutions (scalable to meet any size of business)

• Complete Audio-Visual Solutions (Digital Signage / Interactive / Visitor management / Meeting Room Solutions)

• Full range of EPOS and Payment Solutions (from mobile catering to theme parks). n

Contact us either on: 01484 446172 email: info@filedoc.co.uk to arrange a visit from one of our consultants or come and meet us in our newly refurbished, state of the art showroom facilities.

Website: www.filedoc.co.uk

Bread, Love, and Resilience

Uncle John’s Bakery, founded by John Mensah (whom the com pany is named after) and his wife Emelia, was launched two decades ago inspired by a treasured family recipe passed down from John’s mother, Nana Mary. Longing for the comforting aroma of fresh bread from their homeland, the couple embarked on a quest to recreate it in the UK.

Dissatisfied with the imported alternatives, John took matters into his own hands and launched a business, determined that fel low Ghanaians could enjoy the flavours of home.

Back then, owning a bakery seemed like a distant dream. Financial constraints limited them to using a local bakery at night when it was closed.

Mary Fofia Arthur, Emelia’s mother and a hotel caterer, joined them after her day job, sharing her expertise in crafting delectable cakes, pies, pastries, and donuts to expand the menu.

After long nights of baking, John would deliver the freshly baked goods in his van to local stores. Exhausted, he would rest briefly, only to find thieves had raided his van, stealing his hard work. In those challenging moments, his wife’s encouragement and the Fanti language’s empowering phrase “Obeyeyie” (“life will get better”) provided John with the resilience he needed to press on.

Tragedy struck in late 2003 with Mary’s passing. But the memories of both grandmothers, and the unwavering support they gave inspired John and Emelia to go on to achieve the success they enjoy today.

Over the past 25 years, Uncle John’s Bakery has become a household name in the African Caribbean community through dedication and hard work, extending its reach across the UK, Belgium, France,

Germany, and Italy.

The company’s products are now available in several major supermarkets, and there have been collaborations with renowned brands such as Dropbox, Ghana Party In The Park, and the Unicorn Theatre.

Uncle John’s Bakery has been honoured by prestigious publications such as British Baker, and Time Out magazines and has been invited to 10 Downing Street.

But through all this success John and Emelia remain committed to their slogan, “Obeyeyie,” which helps them in their mission to make life a little better for customers of their baked goods. n

VISIT US:

Address: 76 W Green Rd, South Tottenham, London N15 5NS

HOURS:

Mon: 9am–7pm | Tue: 9am–7pm | Wed: 9am–7pm

Thur: 9am–7pm | Fri: 9am–7pm | Sat: 9am–7pm | Sun: Closed

T. 020 8802 6883 • E: office@theunclejohnsbakery.com

Order: theunclejohnsbakery.com • deliveroo.co.uk • ubereats.com

theunclejohnsbakery.com

THE MENSAH FAMILY: The family that bakes together

COUPLE: John and Emelia

A way of life for

many families

Growing up in Zimbabwe, I was surrounded by hardworking and resilient individuals. One side of my family specialized in agriculture, and the other bought wholesale produce from neighboring countries and sold it for profit. The women in my family, in particular, inspired me with their work ethic and resilience.

When you visit African countries, including Zimbabwe, you will find people of all ages selling products to make a living. My family was no exception. My mother, grandmother, and aunts all grew up selling produce and fresh food at a market stall outside their house. They didn’t consider themselves entrepreneurs, but they had the same drive and determination as those who do. In today’s world, the term “entrepreneur” is often glamorised. But in Zimbabwe, it’s simply a way of life for many families, including mine. I am proud to come from a family of hardworking individuals who taught me the value of resilience and perseverance.

Thanks to my family’s example, I learned that success is not something that is handed to you, but something that must be earned through hard work.

Zendera Home came to life one COVID night as I searched for ways to stay busy outside of my 9-5 job. With my love of interior design and my experience in website creation, I quickly created a site that reflected my taste and passion. Soon after launching, Zendera Home began attracting small business owners and well-known suppliers.

We have recently undergone a brand refresh, and are now more committed than ever to featuring homemade and sustainable products. With a supportive community behind us, and we’re eager to partner with other artisans who share our values and have unique stories to tell. We’re excited to showcase their work in our store and continue to grow and evolve as a brand. n

MPB (my puberty box) formed from a gesture to my niece that I had gifted her roughly around the time she was going through puberty development and experiencing new challenges.

At the time, I was a student and had to do daily journalling when a thought came to mind that prompted me to send a text asking a question, to which she replied No, auntie, but; and this was the start of an eye-opening conversation of peer pressure and influence, feeling unsure of her development as she had started noticing peers began developing I remembered saying “Everyone’s body is different and their body will appear and develop at different times even when of the same age” the conversation continued nevertheless I listened. I was listening to a maturing teen making her own decisions and choices.

I felt confident she be fine, but as an aunt, I wanted to do something for her, so I went to my local shopping not sure what to get her bought a gift box stuffing it with different hygiene towels, deodorants, sprays, soaps, and even some fun things she’d enjoy little notes, stationeries for her to use when she’s ready.

The start of MPB

It was not until months later that speaking with youths, took to social media, started up conversations, and did polls and research to support young people and have access to things they’d need.

And taking to social media with topics, starting up conversations, and questions, doing polls, opening conversations and doing research.

What is MPB (My puberty box)?

MPB offers a one-time kit for pre-teen children suitable aged 9-12 years old, a starter kit providing samples of hygiene products, an educational booklet on what they can expect with puberty development and highlighting topics such as mental health, peer pressure & influence, online safety (to mention) and others. n

Asari St.Hill Business Mentor & Trainer

The Founder, Asari St Hill, has launched the Black Business Club in December 2022. He wants to make a contribution to the quality and quantity of Black businesses across the globe.

Starting in the UK, he wants to build a strong network of members - Black business owners who work together. Contributing even more to every society we live in.

The Gig Economy or a Side Hustle?

With the ‘cost of living crisis’ that everyone is talking about, it seems that everyone either has a ‘side hustle’ or wants to have one. We call it a side hustle, but it is often described by others as the ‘gig economy’.

However, the gig economy’ is actually a labour market that relies heavily on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers. In our community, we have far more ingenious ways to make extra money. From selling shea butter and healthy drinks, to hosting home parties with friends for companies like Forever Living or Avon!

The best way to earn some extra money (apart from overtime) is to start a business.

There are many business opportunities right across the economy.

Let’s explore some of the best ones that do not involve high risks or a high investment, unless you want to go big.

E-commerce and drop shipping

This is an area many people have explored or would like to explore. The problem most people face is the lack of effective marketing to reach enough people. To massively extend your reach, you can sell your products via various platforms like Amazon, Etsy or Spotify. But producing enough stock can be a challenge. And even if you do, the profit margins can be so small it may not seem worth all the effort.

There are many business opportunities

However, many people are making money online. If you want to make some extra money, then this can be a great option as you can usually keep your 9-5. With so many of us work from home or at least hybrid, you can have the time or flexibility to post your goods to clients. Even if you make a few hundred pounds per month, that could keep some people afloat, help you to save, buy a new car or have a holiday you could not previously afford. All business ideas don’t need to make you thousands to change your lives for the better.

The main risk here is if you invest in too much stock or marketing and you are not able to sell the stock in the numbers you had hoped. Otherwise, the risks are relatively low.

Internet proof businesses

With the boom in online sales and digital services particularly those dominated by huge companies, seeking out an internet proof business can be a great way to secure alternative and longer-term business opportunities. These are many low-cost services that cannot be easily delivered by massive companies or via the internet.

Examples of these are cleaning (domestic or small commercial); mobile vehicle valeting; taxi driving;

most of the trades; mobile fast food or catering; garden care; and various personal services like hair dressing, barbers or beauty services. The other great thing about these businesses, is that they have low barriers to entry, low start-up costs and with instant payments, so you can raise cash quickly. All you need to get started are a few tools and a mobile phone. Of course, access to a car, truck or van also helps and extends your reach. Marketing can also be relatively simple, starting with door knocking, leafleting or promotion via the various free social media sites.

Multi-level marketing (MLM)

MLM is also known as network marketing or at worse pyramid selling. Yes, the sales commission is shared through your upline but you can also earn commission through your own team (if you have one). Many people earn a little monthly commission without ever recruiting a team and you get a big discount on the products, if you want them for yourself.

You should not be discouraged by the sometimes negative press. There are plenty of reputable brands, backed by huge organisations – e.g. Forever Living; Utility Warehouse; Avon etc. Typically, there is a small initial investment (under £250), loads of free training and an ‘upline’ who will support you with marketing and sales strategies. This can also bring a small income without you having to give up your job. It can also be scaled to replace your income. You can decide how much you would like to earn and the top earners are very wealthy.

Take action now!

So, are you ready to plan a new ‘side hustle’? Why do it on your own, get advice from an expert in business growth strategies before spending too much time and money. But, don’t waste too much time planning or thinking about a perfect business idea. Start selling as this is the only true way to discover if you are on to something or just a dreamer! n

Low start-up costs and with instant payments, so you can raise cash quickly

Sisters Three SW9 are 3 Sisters from Brixton. Debbie, Amanda and Miranda. We specialise in Vegan soap Making and delivering creative workshops throughout our community.

Sisters Three SW9 was an idea that came up in a discussion about skincare and how we were affected by certain products that were on the market at the time.

Debbie being the oldest sister came up with the idea to make our own Soap! It should be noted that Amanda and I DID NOT want to make soap at all .

We researched some natural products that had great benefits for the skin. Our first soap and only soap for three years was Bentonite Clay, a volcanic Ash that helps to detoxify the skin. A friend was selling some and taught us how to use it and what the benefits were, we were hooked after that and made a beautiful soap bar using the melt-and-pour method.

Our soap sold really well, and we contin-

ued to produce it and introduced our workshops to the community.

After the sad passing of our sister Debbie in 2019. Amanda and Miranda continue to run the family business.

We now have expanded our soap range and have 17 flavours of natural Vegan soap for our lovely customers to choose from.

Our best sellers are St Lucian Sea moss, Moringa and Turmeric.

We sell online and do various pop-up mar-

kets around London and meet new customers. We are currently concentrating on expanding our workshops across communities and spreading our knowledge of soap Making and natural ingredients whilst also implementing self-care and mental awareness. n

Contact us on:

T: 07462 243 054

E: sistersthreeevents@gmail.com

Peaceloveandlight

We celebrate 100 years of excellence in education

“AsaChristian,IbelievethatchildrenareagiftfromGod, andthereforepouringintothemfromanearlyagewillno doubtproducegoodresults.”

Parent

“Excellent!Everythingabouttheschoolisjustfantastic!”

Parent of Year 5 child

“MysonhasbeenattendingHylandHouseSchoolsince Receptionclass(4yrs)andIhaveseenthesteadyprogresshe hasmadeandmilestonesreached.Whenheleavesin2018, hewillbeequippedforthenextchapterofhisacademic journey.”

J. Hinds, parent of Year 6 child

“Brilliant school! Devoted Head and teachers. Great vision. ChildrenareinexcellenthandsatHylandHouse.”

Stoke Newington Seventh-day Adventist Church

“IreallyenjoybeingatHylandHouseSchool,it’slikemy homeawayfromhome,myfamily”

Year 2 child

Welcome to our Christ-centred school where each child is safe, valued, known and loved personally. Our co-educational school offers Christian education for pupils from ages 2 to 11. The school has a warm, friendly atmosphere: pupils are supported to achieve their potential but are also firmly, but kindly, disciplined when necessary. The school ethos is to show love, joy, kindness, perseverance and self-control.

Testimonials

All 4 of my children have attended the Hyland House School from Reception, and my last child is in his final year. I can honestly say that this has been the greatest investment that I have made in life. My children today are significantly better individuals for the experience they have had throughout their entire journey at the school. Since my 3 children have transitioned from Hyland House School to Secondary School, they have stood out from the outset with constant commendation from all teachers. My eldest son was awarded a “Jack Petchy” award, my twin girls have also performed live on television and regularly called upon to represent the school at major events, sing in the school community choir, and also came first place in the Waltham Forest Battle of the Bands competition in 2021.

Errol Gayle Headteacher

Funding Consultants

NGNF is a professional, independent family run proposal writing consultancy working with a diverse client base. We offer a unique end to end service for Community Organisations, Charities, Not for Profit Organisations and Social Enterprises. We work in partnership with clients, understanding their business, objectives and aspirations, and helping them to identify avenues for growth. We match their needs against relevant funding opportunities.

Our team of Proposal Writers focus on creating a compelling application on behalf of our clients, drawing on our extensive experience and ability to access all funding types. Many of our client organisations operate

through public donations. Funding has opened up opportunities to expand existing services and offer new provisions. Looking for funding support? Our fully integrated on-line application process is easy to use. n

NGNF – Helping you to improve communities to empower your community to help themselves

Website: www.ngnf.co.uk

Email: info@ngnf.co.uk

Tel: 0800 689 1815

Facebook: NGNF

LinkedIn: NGNF

Located in the heart of Birmingham, the Legacy Centre is the largest Black Owned Business and Arts Centre in Europe, focused on uplifting the community through arts and business.

Our core values are creativity, service to community, integrity, leadership, and respect. This means that we want to support and inspire creatives to develop creative solutions, to manage challenges and to create new work. We serve with integrity the needs of young people and communities locally, nationally, and internationally supporting the navigation of marginalisation. “Our aim is to champion the development of the next generation of leaders, and to provide support to efforts, which incentivize and encourage leadership in our community.”

As a recently awarded Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, we are delivering a combined artistic programme which includes live music, dance, Zenith visual arts and youth arts festival, “In Conversation” Series, a theatre production, Roots Cultural Festival during Black History month and comedy specials with the likes of Gina Yashere. Our mission statements state that “Legacy Centre of Excellence exists to be a world-class centre of artistic, cultural and economic excellence.” and “To improve the artistic, cultural and economic ecology locally, nationally and inter-

Uplifting and influence communities

nationally; one step at a time.” The purpose of delivering these events is to ensure that we are at the heart of creativity and to have an influence on our communities and Birmingham City’s creative and artistic culture.

With the acknowledgement of the importance of education & skills, we are incredibly keen to encourage education and upskilling, as well as support and offer programmes to young people who are “not in education, employment or training”. Our upcoming skills and education programme includes a Children’s Choir, Saturday Schools, and a Business Hub, Jobs fairs and Training courses.

These events are some of the ways that we are able to reach our community and our staff is dedicated to offering a professional service to ensure the betterment of the said community. The final objective of Legacy Centre of Excellence’s Mission Statement is “To provide a high-quality service to all who use our facilities.” n

Contact details:

W: www.legacycoe.co.uk

T: 01214488910 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm)

T: 08450527726 (out of office)

TWO GREAT MINDS: Centre manager Cypher Shayaam meets with Sir Trevor McDonald

Legacy Centre of Excellence

pain and stress Alleviate

‘In my book ‘First (& Last Time?!) Mum: My Sickle Cell Journey - A True Story’, I detail the transition of how I managed my sickle cell from being ‘stable’, to then after pregnancy dealing with the development of widespread degenerative bone-death condition avascular necrosis.

Along with including many self-help tips for sickle cell management, I also reveal the creation of my new business ‘StressEaseByEsi’, whereby I produce my very own self taught, home-made natural remedies to help alleviate the pain and stress bought on by the said conditions.

After being put on numerous medications to little avail, I began to realise how I routinely relied on bath salts to help ease the excruciating pain.

Knowing how useful I found the bath salts, and the fact they are a natural alternative to medication, I decided to create my own bath salts, using a mixture of key ingredients including essential oils. Crucial to the mix lavender is included, identifying it tackles muscle pain whilst increasing blood circulation - very important for sickle cell suffers.

Understanding the combined health benefits of a calming ambience when bathing, I also make home-made candles. n

For branded hot water bottles, pens, bookmarks and more visit: www.stresseasebyesi.com

In the heart of Brixton, south London, Gold Discount Jewellery has thrived for nearly four decades, winning a reputation for its unique designs, quality craftmanship and outstanding customer service.

Richard Watson, a passionate entrepreneur and jeweller, founded the business in 1986.

Over the course of his journey from a young apprentice to the respected business owner he is today Watson has won several accolades for the quality of work that Gold Discount Jewellery offers.

While his initial aspirations leaned towards tailoring Watson, who grew up in Brixton, discovered a new passion when he began a jewellery apprenticeship.

It would prove to be an important turning point in his career.

As his confidence and skills grew during his early years as a jeweller, he harboured the dream of running his own business.

That dream became a reality when, in 1986, he took a leap of faith and launched Gold Discount Jewellery, after previously selling jewellery products from a market stall in Brixton.

The shop’s launch was a momentous occasion for Watson and the local community.

It was attended by the hugely popular heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno who cut the opening ribbon. Bruno’s presence at the opening was a testament to the respect that Watson had earned for his dedication to his craft.

Gold Discount Jewellery specializes in creating custom-designed pieces, offering a simple, step-by-step process that turns clients’ ideas and dreams into shining realities.

However the entrepreneur’s impact extends to the local community in which the shop is based.

By choosing Brixton as the home for his business, Watson has helped contribute to the area’s economic growth and cultural richness. His work has helped countless local people celebrate important milestones and create lasting memories.

And his own connection to Brixton continues to reinforce his dedication to preserving the area’s identity and spirit. n

Hand Made to Order

You’ll train hard, have fun and leave feeling unstoppable.

City Boxing Camp is a family-run boxing studio based in stratford east london. Founded by two brothers with one goal in mind to become the most inclusive gym In the world.

We came from humble beginnings, training family and friends in parks in East London.

Through hard work dedication and a commitment to the sport, we have grown exponentially whilst never forgetting our roots. We love to help people achieve their fitness goals and become the best versions of themselves.

We offer a range of workouts and programmes, from beginners and youth classes to personalised 1-2-1 training and company wellness days we believe boxing should be accessible to all!

At the camp you’ll train hard, have fun and leave feeling unstoppable. All are welcome. We re here to help!. n

Emmanuel & James - @cityboxingcamp

86 Romford Road, London E15 4EH

W:

cityboxingcamp.co.uk T: 0744 8680 841

Add flavour with Boom

Iam Maryann Penfold, founder and producer of Boom Sauce. Years ago, my uncle in Trinidad gave me some chilli sauce he had made, and whenever I’d visit him, he’d instead of he would always encourage me to open a Trini Restaurant.

He even bought me a tawa and spices I needed to start. But that was a lot of talk over a lot of Trini rum! I recreated his chilli sauce but added my own twist. It was so popular with friends and family... Boom Sauce went from a hobby to a business in June 2019.

We are always looking at ways to be sustainable. The bottles and boxes we use to post orders are all recyclable.

The boxes are padded out with packing peanuts which are made from corn starch and can be popped into the soil in your garden or into water and it will dissolve in seconds.

Also, for every order we plant a tree through Ecology, and we are proud to say that since partnering with Ecology, we have planted over 1000 trees. We are still active in seeking ways to improve and protect our planet.

Boom Sauce Products Fix Up D’heat

The original of our sauces, based around my Uncle’s recipe. Your store cupboard essential that livens up any meal. Use as a dip, marinade, an ingredient, from breakfast to dinner, it’s incredibly versatile.

Smokey Fix

We’ve combined our original Fix Up with Smoked Reapers to create a

delicious sauce that is really versatile. Use first thing in the morning with your breakfast, add to pasta, meat, fish, tofu, tacos, fajitas, BBQ.

Hot Chup

Add a touch of spice to burgers, dip your chips in, and use as a marinade. Also as a base for your homemade pizzas.

Soca Hot

The first of our super hots, with Chilli Extract to add that BOOM! Each bottle contains a minimum of 6 million SHU, add just a drop to any recipe and take your everyday dishes to next level of flavour. Great for home baking too, jams, muffins, cakes, and chocolates. Add to pasta, soups, meat, fish, tofu, tacos, fajitas, and BBQ. Also, great in Bloody Mary, my personal favourite.

Red Ring

Our hottest product EVER, made with a delicious combination of tomatoes, onion, sugar and spice blended with a minimum of 12 million SHU Chilli Extract in each bottle. A crazy hot sauce that has a sweet bite but a super powerful kick! Add just a drop to burgers, tacos, pasta or curries. Use as a marinade or add to any recipe and take your everyday dishes to next level flavour. The endorphins will kick in and 10 minutes later you will get that euphoric feeling! n

W: www.boomsauce.co.uk

E: info@boomsauce.co.uk

FB, Twitter, TikTok

Instagram: @Worthing_Boom_Sauce

Maryann Penfold (left), founder and producer of Boom Sauce. collecting her award from Theo Paphitis (middle) with husband Aaron (right)

A dedicated Family and Business Law Practice with a global outreach

Our mission is to provide efficient and expert practical legal advice and representation to individuals and businesses alike.

Our vision has extended beyond the UK and our dual qualified lawyers also practice extensively throughout the Caribbean region and West Africa.

We also facilitate in house training courses to businesses and charities on wills and estate planning as well as offering introductory courses on the benefits of using mediation for resolving work place conflict and other forms of legal disputes.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’). You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA. You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen and this is important to remember.

You can choose to make one type or both.

• A Property and Financial Affairs LPA allows your chosen person to handle your bank accounts, investments, bills and property.

• A Health and Welfare LPA covers decisions about your health and care. Health conditions such as Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or a stroke can prevent you from making decisions on your own. Imagine if a joint owner has their income or pension paid into an account, or they use

Bow Law Chambers is a focused Law practice with a global outreach. It was founded in 2016 by Barrister and Caribbean Attorney at Law, Miss Simone Bowman.

it to pay critical bills such as a mortgage or utility costs.

If you lose mental capacity without an LPA, it will be necessary for your family to apply to the Court of Protection to have a deputy appointed to deal with everyday financial matters. This is a slow and very expensive process, costing thousands of pounds. Bow Law Chambers are here to help and can guide you through the LPA process.

What is the importance of having a Will?

At Bow Law Chambers, we believe that everyone should have a will

Without a will , your assets will be divided according to the law, which may not meet your wishes. If you’re married with children, your spouse may not automatically inherit everything you own. Instead, your assets may be divided between your spouse and your children.

If you are not married, your partner may not get any of your assets.

A personal and professional will writing service with unlimited revisions. We are able to guide you through the whole process from taking instructions for your will right through to signing and storing the final document.

What is Probate?

We understand that coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is difficult enough therefore, we aim to provide a service that will make the administration of an estate as stress free as possible.

Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die. You should not make any financial plans or put property on the market until you’ve got probate.

Probate is a legal document that is submit ted when a person dies. It is needed before any administration of the deceased’s estate can start. It can involve sorting out all claims, distributing assets left in the sure all legal and financial affairs are in order. Who can apply depends on whether or not there’s a will. Before applying for probate, you must find out if you need to pay Inher itance Tax.

To do this, you need to estimate the value of the estate of the person who died. Even if there’s no tax to pay, you’ll need the value as part of your probate application.

Our team can help your relatives through all the legal, financial, tax, estate asset and communication duties. n

Bow Law Chambers (Caribbean)

Contact information for legal advice and or bespoke facilitated training; Simone Bowman 0208 123 4400 www.bowlawchambers.com

Barrister Attorney at Law | Guyana| Jamaica | Barbados | St Lucia | St. Christopher & Nevis | Civil & Commercial Accredited Mediator

A specialist team of Barristers, Solicitors and Attorneys at Law. Mandeville, Montego Bay, Kingston, Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Trinidad, Grenada, Antigua, St.Kitts and Nevis

Jamaica’s gifts to the world!

Former Londoner, Sandra G better known as Lady English is excited and grateful to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of her company, Fountain Pimento Oil. Long before H & M, Top Shop and Primark brought their flagship stores to New York, and online shopping was a thing, Lady English was selling women’s clothes, Clark’s shoes and Pendeen mesh marina’s from the UK to supplement her meager earnings after migrating to Brooklyn, NY in 1997.

The former magazine journalist and booking agent made a good living and that experience made her realize she could sell ANYTHING, and really understood the meaning of her sunrise, 4/20!

The English Connection Media radio show presenter’s journey promoting some of Jamai-

ca’s gifts to the world began in January 2008 after a visit to her mother’s birthplace of St. Thomas, Jamaica. Lack of a decent beach in the area, led to a trek up to Bath Fountain, a

renowned sulfur mineral spring where thousands flock annually for a healing bath and massage.

A life changing therapeutic bath and deep tissue massage in the hot mineral filled spring water, the following day Lady English realized her own nerve damage pain had disappeared, and decided that this product should be everywhere and not just in Jamaica “we’re always running to the Doctor’s for a prescription for medicine that more often than not fixes one symptom, but creates another”

Fountain Pimento Oil uses leaves, barks, seed and natural plant oils to create organic, vegan safe herbal pain relief and hair growth products suitable for all ethnicities.

After a shipment of Pimento Oil from Jamaica did not meet her expectations, Lady English decided to experiment with Pimento and other leaves from Jamaica and make it herself. She tested her formula by giving away samples during her radio show, and once people started giving feedback that it worked, she went ahead to manufacture the product full on.

Bolstered by the success of Fountain Pimento Oil, she then tried her hand at hair growth oils, then shampoo & conditioners which are all doing phenomenally well on various online platforms including Amazon, Walmart and various stores globally including Carby’s Souvenirs in Twin Gates Plaza, Kingston, Jamaica, Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace, in Long Island New York and Pempansies in Brixton, London.

During the pandemic, pimento oil sales soared “as people were scrambling to find natural remedies” and the increased revenue led to her designing and collaborating with a manufacturer to produce mesh marina’s for small dogs! “I knew the venture would be risky” she laughs “because we don’t dress up our dogs, they’re supposed to stay outside - but recognising the void with string vests for dogs I decided to go ahead. The fisherman string vest is synonymous with Jamaica, well the whole Caribbean really, reggae, dancehall and rasta” and it has really taken off with the Rasta dog mesh outselling even the Jamaican ones. n

As people were scrambling to find natural remedies

The beer with the Windrush spirit

Robyn Gustard-Weise is Brixton born of Jamaican heritage. She came to Brooklyn, New York as a young child with her mother while she pursued a career in music journalism after a successful corporate career in London.

Robyn grew up in the Crown Heights and Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn and would return to South London annually for holidays and summer breaks.

Grandmother

As a child Robyn’s palate was exposed to all cuisines by her grandmother Madge, a serious home cook and well-respected resident of the Brixton and Herne Hill community.

Grandma Madge was from Jamaica (Morant Bay) and came to England in the 1960s, like many others from that era, known as The Windrush Generation”.

Grandma Madge was known for her discerning taste in fashion, music, culture, and food. Any day at Grandma Madge’s home could be an occasion for rhubarb and apple crumble with

scratch made custard, freshly boiled bagels from East London, charcuterie from the Harrods Food Hall and homemade oxtail, yes all in a day. Robyn was very fortunate to have a grandmother that valued the very best flavours in life.

Industry

Home life remained Jamaican and British while growing up in NYC, Sunday dinners were a regular occasion for Guinness punch, sorrel, puddings, and crumbles.

The flavours of home influenced Robyn’s decision to pursue further education in the culinary arts after High School.

While Robyn gained experience and education in hospitality, she gained interest in the burgeoning craft beer industry.

Robyn paired craft beer with various dishes at the restaurants she worked in. Beer and food pairing provided a specialized experience to restaurant guests while expanding Robyn’s palate. Her days off would be occasions to visit breweries and learn more about beer.

Robyn has held numerous titles in the craft beer industry for over half a decade. Currently, Robyn is the Assistant Brewer for Wild East Brewing Company in Brooklyn and has her own company, Kicks and Kegs, specializing in the creative design of craft beer with content creation and events.

Delicious

Windrush Lager was first brewed in 2022 for Barrel and Flow, a Black brewers festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I thought about the style of beer I wanted to brew for the festival for several months, and while enjoying a Smoked-Helles Lager at home one Saturday night I had an idea.

The body of the Smoked-Helles was particularly crisp, light, and delicious, “it was a moment of inspiration and hunger that gave me the idea to get some pepper from the cupboard and add some to my glass”. I didn’t know what to expect, I thought it might be tasty, but to my surprise it was delicious. n

AVENUE & ROAD BEER SUPPLY

The Nurse and Midwife Behind the Mask

‘BlackBritainandBeyond’virtualsymposium

ever-changingglobalised world, to understand disparitieswhilststrengtheningcommonalities–looking backwards (Africa) andsideways(Caribbean & USA), and to continue moving forward and be-

“We’re embeddedhere,we’rehere, throughhistory, culture,and contribution

icanceoftheiruniqueculture,heritageandidentity. The goal became to galvanise Black Britons, to acclaimtheirspaceinthe

”

Co-organiser Sheryl Nwosu said: “We’re here, we’re embedded here, through history, culture, and contribution; buildingandsolidifyinginstitutions, and the very

Maybe it was the flexibility of being your own boss, the money, independence, or a sense of purpose. But somewhere between your first day in business and today you’ve compromised. Things haven’t quite turned out how you planned. You’re working longer and harder than you planned or expected. But guess what? You’re not alone.

The financial success of ALL businesses broadly breaks down into 5 segments. Every business owner is somewhere on this pyramid – where about are you?

Eighty percent are ‘just getting by ‘or ‘broke’ – they never planned it that way. One characteristic that is missing for most of the businesses in these 2 segments is how they market their business.

Things have changed and it’s no good now just taking out a big ad in Yellow Pages. You have to play a different game.

Many businesses believe the upcoming year will be one of the most difficult challenges for many years. How do you prepare for rising living costs and an unpredictable supply chain primarily out of your control?

Some of you will take it as bad news and use it as an excuse. They might even cut back

of small business owners are wrong about everything. Here’s the proof!

When you started in business, you had a dream. A goal.

on marketing or ’bury their head in the sand’. Others will see an opportunity. Whichever side of the fence you fall on, it’s not an option to do nothing if you want your business to survive.

In the last two years, we’ve seen a massive shift to online purchasing and communications. Now that the genie’s out of the bottle, there’s no going back. So, how do you build on that experience and stay connected?

Typically, in most industries, customers arrive at your door when looking for a solution. That hasn’t changed…

But what if you started to build relationships with potential clients earlier?

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your customers don’t use the internet. They do –FACT.

They’re not going into the library or looking for you in the Thomson’s Local. They’re asking Google and Alexa.

In today’s market, you have to think differently.

You have to start marketing and these 7 Rules of Effective Marketing have helped thousands of business owners just like you to move up the pyramid. These rules give you a checklist. A roadmap. A framework.

Rule # 1. There’ll always be an offer

Ideally, it’s a stop you in your tracks offer that’s incredibly attractive to your customer AND profitable for you.

It must be powerful enough for people to move, take the right action, and choose you. It’s not enough to say who you are and what you do.

The offer doesn’t have to be a discount. Nobody gets excited with 10% off. It’s a lazy offer.

Be creative with your offer. Make it memorable. Charge a premium or add value and scarcity.

Wow your customer with its perceived value, but make sure that it’s profitable for you.

Creating the right offer will drive responses, so it’s essential to give it some thought and get it right.

Rule # 2. There’ll be a reason to respond – Right Now

Deadlines work well here. Just like…

…Only ten days left to claim this offer

…After the 31st, the price goes up to…

Limiting the number on offer to the first ten also gives them a reason to respond now.

Rule # 3. There’ll be crystal clear instructions of how to respond

Only give them ONE thing to do. Don’t confuse people. Give them clear instructions on the one thing you want them to do

Rule # 4. There’ll be proper tracking and measuring

You must make sure that your marketing is working, so the tracking and measuring of results is crucial. Here are three key strategies to make measuring easy.

· Tracking phone numbers on every marketing piece. They’re really cheap – so only use 1 phone number in 1

If you’d like help implementing the 7 rules and particularly moving YOUR business up the pyramid then let’s have a chat. Call Mike on 01256 213021 or email: info@mgretailconsulting.co.uk

place.

· Use vanity URLs that point to specific pages on your website.

· Use separate email addresses, so you can see how many people respond

Once THIS STEP is in place you’ll make informed decisions based on fact and not on a gut feeling or opinion

Rule # 5. There’ll be proper follow up

When you launch your promotion, consider this… … at any one time, statistically, only 3% of the audience is ready to buy. The others aren’t ready yet, but in most cases, they get forgotten or cast aside, which is why you must have a proper follow-up.

Having a follow-up process that is systematic, consistent and regular helps to remind prospects that you’re there. The follow-up keeps them engaged and close. In most cases, with follow-up, you’re giving up too early. Whatever you are doing now … …do a bit more.

Rule # 6. There’ll be strong copy

Don’t make it about you. Show your prospect how you can help them. Make it about how your product or service will benefit and solve your prospects’ problems.

Rule # 7. Results Rule!!

It doesn’t matter what you think or like it’s the result that matters.

The cost per sale is always more important than the cost per lead, so it’s essential to know both.

Looking and reviewing the numbers may surprise you, and having accurate measures in place may uncover a golden egg.

Knowing these 7 RULES is very different to implementing them. But it’s the implementation that makes the difference. It’s implementation that moves you up the pyramid.

Our health is our

wealth

Iam Mervelee Myers introducing my business as a Mental Health and SEND Advocate turned Activist. I created Mervelee Consultancy from my contributions to communities of practices arriving in the UK in 1992 as a Basic School Teacher. My credentials as an “Expert Authority on subjects from the Cradle to the Grave” can be verified online.

In my last job, I was an “EYFS Coordinator, SENCO, and Multigenerational Working Approach Facilitator. I established myself as a performer using my natural talents in delivering the holistic approaches of traditional activities to diverse multicultural audiences in

person and online.

I have been given the “Philosophy of BRAINS” to continue the legacies of the Right Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverley. That I have been delivering in the workplaces and further afield at Darvell School, Community Playthings UK. I have performed in choirs and at the Globe Theatre Winter Festival.

I have done “Solo Performances” at Open Mic and celebrations. I performed at Rastafari Birdlegs Black Perspective 2022. My most outstanding achievement is being listed as the “Composer” for SONGSTREET App working with Jessie Lloyd.

I am a member of Tony Cealy Windrush Playback Stories. n

W: www.merveleeadvocacy.com

T: @rattynem

FB: www.facebook.com/mervelee.myers

I’m using traditional activities to diverse multicultural audiences in person and online

COMPETITION

Love yourself... WIN SOME Shea Luv!!

His passion for cosmetics and skincare products was fueled by the negative effects of various artificial ingredients in the market today. This desire and passion made him start researching and producing natural skin and hair care products.

With the support of his family, he was able to create organic products for better health and total wellness.

Our vision.

Our vision is to re-connect us with nature and give plants their voices as a powerful spark to improve the people’s health and beauty.

Our products promise purity, formulated with natural products to give you the best hair, skin, bath and body care. We take great pride in ethically and carefully sourc ing high-quality natural ingredients directly from farm ers/producers or through community projects in West Africa (Ghana). Our aim is to make all products as real and natural as possible for better health and total wellness.

We believe that we are playing a major role in the global legacy of womanhood, and that one woman’s success influences the story of us all.

Forget the synthetics and say hello to a smarter way to be beautiful.

To Win a set valued at £120 please answer the following question.

Ingredients in Shea Luv is:

A. Come from farmers in Ghana

B. Come from Brixton

C. Come from farmers in Scotland

Post your answer to our IG at: @shealuv

The founder of SHEA Luv is Micheal.