As we mark this month’s celebrations of Black achievement and enterprise, we’re reminded that innovation thrives when opportunity is shared and this initiative is a great example of that in action. 🚀 The Founders’ Collective - Black Business Collective This 5-week accelerator is designed to empower Black entrepreneurs in the West Midlands with the tools, knowledge, and network to secure the right funding and build sustainable, investment-ready businesses. Hosted at the Legacy Centre of Excellence, the programme offers: 💡 Expert guidance on funding routes and opportunities 🤝 1:1 investor support and tailored business insight 🌍 Strategies for scaling internationally 🌱 A collaborative space to learn, connect, and grow As Jack Francis Kelly, Business Finance Specialist from the Investment Readiness Programme, shares: “The Investment Readiness team are delighted to be supporting Alex Cole and The Black Business Collective here in the West Midlands. There’s a huge opportunity in international trade and investment through diaspora networks , but here in the UK, and especially across Birmingham and the Black Country, we need stronger, more sustainable ecosystems to truly unlock it. Our goal is to transform overlooked talent into investible, net-positive businesses, aligned with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and the West Midlands Growth Plan.” 📅 Wednesday 8 October 2025 📍 Legacy Centre of Excellence, Birmingham 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/eYx8w7py Oxford Innovation Advice Sandwell Council / Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council / Birmingham City Council / / Dudley Council / Walsall Council / / Coventry City Council / City of Wolverhampton Council / Dudley Business First

Black Culture Market supports emerging entrepreneurs and new black businesses of African & Caribbean descent with opportunities to showcase and sell their products in the retail industry. The team achieve this by curating and hosting exclusive Black Market events in a variety of iconic venues across London and beyond. This Thursday, Black Culture Market will be heading to Leadenhall Market, where visitors can browse products from black-owned businesses, while enjoying Afrobeat tracks courtesy of our live DJ. We're excited to be producing this event in collaboration with Black Culture Market and Eastern City BID, offering a chance to celebrate Black History Month and black entrepreneurship. We look forward to welcoming visitors from the City of London and beyond this Thursday. #BlackHistoryMonth #LondonBIDS #LondonPlacemaking #CulturalEvents

💡"If other people are doing it, why can't you?" In part two of our conversation for Black Business Week, three founders share the advice they'd give to other aspiring entrepreneurs and reflect on their own experience with imposter syndrome. Watch Gary Izunwa (Tangent) TJ Bouchada (Moody Cow Nails), Bolu Fagborun (Same Day Solutions Limited (SDS)) and Natalie Gasson-McKinley MBE MBA (British Business Bank) explore what it really takes to build and scale a business as a Black entrepreneur in the UK, and how access to the right funding and support can make all the difference.

"Be intentional about your growth." 👏🏾 Last Saturday, we were honoured to attend the incredible UK Black Business Show, the final event in the annual UK Black Business Week, both founded by our amazing alumnus Dr. Raphael Sofoluke. 💫 The event was attended by thousands of people, including a few Herts students, who listened to talks, met sellers, made several career connections and learnt so much about navigating through the business world. 🤝🏾 We caught up with the CEO himself to ask him about the importance of this event, how Herts helped him on his journey and his one piece of solid business advice for students. 💼 UK Black Business Week | UK Black Business Show #Business #UKBBShow #HertsAlumni [Video description: Raphael talking directly to camera in front of a dark blue backdrop with the logos of the UK Black Business Show and HSBC. There's a few clips overlaid of the show itself including businesses and their stalls Raphael on stage in front of an audience.]

🚨BREAKING NEWS BLACK LEADER ALERT Dom Scott is somebody you need to know this black history month. Meet Dom Scott an award-winning business leader who’s made waves in the world of financial services and leadership. With nearly two decades at Foxtons and Alexander Hall, Dom didn’t just grow companies he grew people. Under his leadership, Alexander Hall saw over £14 billion in property lending, a 700% EBITDA increase, and more than 30 industry awards. 💼🔥 But behind the spreadsheets and success stories is a man powered by purpose. Dom is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social mobility, proudly serving as a Trustee for the charity Making the Leap helping young people from all walks of life unlock their potential. Whether he’s mentoring, fundraising, or speaking truth to power, Dom leads with integrity, empathy, and a smile that says “we’ve got this.” This Black History Month, BYP is shining a light on Black leaders you need to know people like Dom who are breaking barriers, lifting others, and redefining what leadership looks like. 👉🏾 Follow, like, and share to celebrate more trailblazers shaping the future. ✊🏾

The richest Black man in America didn’t build his wealth through sports or entertainment, he did it through government contracts. In this clip, Eric Coffie breaks down how Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies, quietly became No. 1 on Forbes’ list of richest Black Americans, ahead of names like Michael Jordan and Robert F. Smith. While many chase visibility, others build quietly through federal contracting, solving government problems at scale. This is what happens when you understand how to leverage the federal marketplace instead of competing in oversaturated industries. 📞 Want to learn how to position your business for federal opportunities? Comment "YES" to Book a free assessment call. 🔁 Repost to share this with another entrepreneur who needs to hear it. 👥 Follow Govcon Giants (GCG) for real federal growth strategies that work.

Black History Month is a time to honour the leadership and lasting impact of black pioneers in healthcare, whose resilience and contributions continue to shape a more inclusive NHS today. Our recent blog explores key figures in NHS history and why diversity is a strength in healthcare. https://ow.ly/HI6V50X9LRf

Zimbabwe-born entrepreneur Fungai Ndemera has been named one of twelve finalists in the 2025 KPMG UK Black Entrepreneurs’ Awards, a recognition that celebrates her mission to transform primary healthcare through innovation, resilience, and purpose. As Founder & CEO of CheckUp Health UK, Fungai leads a team that redefines healthcare accessibility through AI-powered solutions, empowering clinicians and serving diverse, underserved communities. On 23 October, she will pitch live alongside 11 other inspiring entrepreneurs, as 4 winners — one per category — are selected. The event will highlight the impact of Black innovation on shaping the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape. A proud moment for African innovation. A powerful reminder that technology, when built with purpose, can change lives. 👉 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dv65z42r

Timed to coincide with Black History Month, the Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has released the results of its latest Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Survey. The findings show encouraging progress across the hospitality sector but also highlight where more focused effort is needed to turn commitment into sustained action. The IoH had invited hospitality professionals earlier this year to share their perspectives, and the key findings include: 💠 Widespread Adoption: 84% of organisations report having a dedicated DEIB strategy in place. 💠 Resourcing Gap: 56% of organisations do not have a dedicated DEIB Lead, underscoring the need for stronger internal structures to embed change. 💠 Strategic Importance: 76% of respondents either strongly agree (51%) or agree (25%) that DEIB should remain a top priority. 💠 Staff Sentiment: 65% of employees are happy or very happy with their organisation’s current approach, though inconsistency in the delivery of these efforts remains a challenge. 💠 Future Focus: The commitment looks stable, with 53% of organisations planning to maintain current efforts and 18% planning to expand them, while only 1% intend to reduce DEIB activity. https://lnkd.in/ek2yGqtS

Alright fam… here’s the truth I shared during the Masters of Scale panel at UK Black Business Week 🇬🇧 When I was asked what advice I’d give to Black UK entrepreneurs wanting to market to Black Americans, my answer was simple — understand the power of collectivism. Black people — across the diaspora — were never designed to do life alone. Community isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. 🖤 That’s why, in my business model, I intentionally build in-person experiences — spaces where belonging, brilliance, and belief collide. Because community can’t be fully cultivated on Zoom. When I design events, I start with the purpose. If the purpose is community, then every detail — from the location, to the layout, to the swag — should preach belonging. That’s why we gather at 5-star properties, not classrooms. Because our people deserve to be reminded of their worth — from the moment they walk through the door.