OCTOBER is Black History Month and this year’s theme will be Time For Change.
This means making a difference at work too.
Black unemployment rates in Britain are 8.1 per cent, more than twice that of white people.
When running a business, two-thirds of black business owners have suffered discrimination as they set up firms, according to a report from Lloyds Bank and the Black British Network. This is up from 51 per cent last year.
To help turn the tide, here is our choice of the best initiatives to support black business owners and career ladder climbers . . .
BLACK VALLEY: Founded by tech expert Leke Sholuade following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Black Valley is a global network of mentors from top firms, including Amazon and Google, who offer support to black tech talent. See blackvalley.co.uk.
MASTERCARD STRIVE’S BE THE BUSINESS: This programme is aimed at ethnic minority business owners from micro and small firms. It offers support from a group of experienced businesspeople, alongside tech help and mentoring. Go to bit.ly/3SolXIb.
MENTOR BLACK BUSINESS: Initiative to partner thousands of businesses with mentors, including experts from M&C Saatchi and Morgan Stanley. Visit mentorblackbusiness.com.
ACE ENTREPRENEURS: The free-to-join community has a network of more than 5,000 people offering business and finance content hubs, a black business directory, access to alternative start-up funding, a grant finder plus affordable marketing services. Check it out at aceentrepreneurs.com.
BGF X EBAY SELLER ACADEMY: This free 12-week programme is for black women to learn how to successfully grow an online business using eBay as a marketplace. It offers hands-on training, guidance from eBay experts and financial support. See blackgirlfest.com/seller-academy.
BLACK ENTREPRENEURS AWARDS: Backed by accountancy giant KPMG, the awards highlight black-heritage entrepreneurs with four £25,000 investment prizes. See bit.ly/3CfCgRM.
BLACK TALENT AWARDS: Launched by Merlin Entertainments and EDF, the awards champion relatable professional role models to tackle employment discrimination. Go to blacktalentawards.co.uk.
SOLARIS: This one-year leadership development programme is designed to advance black women leaders looking to progress beyond middle management. See solarisleadership.com.
Jobspot
THE BLACK TECH FEST takes place in London from October 11 to 13.
It pays to be diverse
IS your firm serious about diversity? Or is it just ticking boxes?
Shelley Bishton is News UK’s diversity champion – and she believes all firms need to truly embrace a diverse workforce to be successful.
She explains: “British culture is one of the most diverse in the world. Companies need to recognise that if it’s happening on the streets, you’d better make sure it’s happening in your store or business.”
One in five people in the UK are non-white, according to the Office for National Statistics. By the end of the century, a third will be of mixed heritage.
Around 20 per cent identify as having a disability and three per cent as LGBT.
If this isn’t reflected in your company or business, can you truly say your products or services are reflecting the needs of this growing consumer market?
If you want your business to be relevant or even still around in ten years’ time then you have to be diverse.
Innovation comes from diversity of thought and experience. If everyone in the room looks and talks the same, how can creativity flourish?
Diversity of people means you have broader ideas being brought to the table, which means more creativity and, ultimately, growth.
A diverse workforce will also help you attract – and keep – more staff, which is the number one problem faced by companies at the moment.
Jobspot
UNDER 30 and need career guidance?
Charity ACCESS UK offers tailored support. Visit accessuk.org
Beating the bias
A NEW recruitment platform is aiming to break the bias that sees ethnic minority applicants discriminated against in around 29 per cent of job applications.
Beapplied.com uses anonymised assessments and has seen the number of minority candidates rise by up to 300 per cent.
CEO Khyati Sundaram said: “CVs and interviews can lead hiring teams to assess candidates based on their names, previous jobs and ‘cultural fit’ and disadvantage black applicants. When hiring decisions are based on potential, research shows black talent shines through.”
FREE CHEF COURSE
BLACK hospitality staff have the chance to win one of 15 fully funded training courses.
The training will take place at Leiths School of Food and Wine in London through Be Inclusive Hospitality’s Seat At The Table Fund.
The course includes ten-week Chefs’ Skills, Plant-based Essential Cooking and Nutrition in Culinary Practice or shorter Food Styling and Knife Skills.
Backed by Mars Food’s Ben’s Original, the course requires applicants to have two years’ experience in hospitality. Apply by midnight tonight at uk.bensoriginal.com/seatatthetablefund.
Fest zest
BLACK women are more likely than any other community to start side hustles, according to an eBay study.
Management consultant Vera-Jayne Nwajiaku set up her eBay store Nonyelum Vee after studying on the eBay x BGF X eBay Seller Academy.
Vera-Jayne, 48, from North London, said: “It’s important to recognise there is bias and black people, especially black women, are less likely to be approved for loans or given support to start up a business. The great thing about working with Black Girl Fest (BGF) and eBay is the support you receive.
“The training is set up to work around you and other commitments and the fact that we all learn in different ways.”
