Chamber launches new network to champion black entrepreneurs
A new business network aiming to champion the growth and development of companies owned by black entrepreneurs has been launched by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Called GBCC Black Business Collective, it is a free subscriber network offering business owners and professionals a platform to meet, learn, stay connected and discover new opportunities.
The initiative has been proposed and developed by a committee of black business leaders who will steer its future activities.
Subscribers will have access to a quarterly event, invitations to events across the wider chamber group and a quarterly digital bulletin featuring insights and opportunities for the black business community.
Leading the collective will be chairman Alex Cole, who is chief executive of business consultancy TIN Ventures, and honorary president Karl George who is head of governance at financial services firm RSM and a chamber board member.
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They are supported by vice-chairs Justice Williams, founder and editor of Black Business Magazine, and Keith Shayaam-Smith, chief executive of business and arts facility Legacy Centre for Excellence.
Joining them on the committee are Yetunde Dania, head of the Birmingham office of law firm Trowers & Hamlins, Rebekah Taitt, Midlands development director at Lloyds Bank, and Denise Morris, founder of business body TAG Network Midlands.
Lloyds Banking Group and Trowers & Hamlins are also founding partners of the GBCC Black Business Collective. The initiative will be launched on Saturday at the Birmingham Black Business Show at the NEC in Solihull.
Mr Cole said: “I’m genuinely delighted to be joining my esteemed colleagues in bringing this vision to life. I want to see more black-led businesses grow, scale and reach their global potential.
“The GBCC Black Business Collective presents a huge opportunity to work collectively across community, private, public, education sectors and beyond to enhance the existing business support, environmental, social and governance, and innovation ecosystems to facilitate sustainable growth.
“We look forward to using the many years of data and research now available on the need, and opportunity, for proactive, tailored solutions for the black business community to inform the work of the collective.”
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: “The collective is an exciting new partnership between our chamber and black business community networks.
“We are here to help all businesses in Greater Birmingham, from start-ups to multinationals, unleash their potential. We recognise that, in order to be truly inclusive, we must directly engage with the very practical needs of our communities.
“The collective offers subscribers access to a simple programme of events and communications tailored to the needs of the black business community as well as connections into wider, free chamber activity.”
