Current and previous alumni of the Black Business Incubator include entrepreneurs pursuing innovation and pushing boundaries in industries across the creative sector, from performing arts, fashion and food to publishing, technology and social media. 

Bringing together Somerset House’s and Mentor Black Business’s different skills and networks, the twelve-month programme provides participants with a series of expert-led workshops, mentorship from industry specialists. Members are given free access to Somerset House’s shared workspace The Exchange and are integrated into Somerset House’s vibrant resident community programme.  

The newly announced members mark the third Black Business Incubator cohort, with the first cohort of 15 entrepreneurs joining the in May 2021, followed by a second cohort of 35 Black-led businesses joining in January 2022. Of the fifty businesses that have taken part in the programme since its inception, 70 percent have experienced an increase in opportunities as a direct result of the Black Business Incubator. 

Montana Hall, founder of the highly influential jobs platform with over 50k followers on Instagram alone, Run The Check, graduated from the first programme cohort in 2022. She describes the positive impact of the programme; ‘The BBI Programme catalysed my working progress with Run the Check. In addition, the support from peers in my cohort, and access to the wider Somerset House community were also instrumental to my personal development'. 

Deborah Latouche, creative director of luxury modest wear brand, SABIRAH, who also graduated from cohort one, was featured in Vogue and had the opportunity to show her clothing collection to Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful at Milan fashion week showcase during her time in the programme. ‘The Black Business Incubator has positively impacted my business in many different ways - from having access to positive role models and mentors to being able to meet clients at Somerset House’.   

Akwasi Brenya-Mensa, founder of Tatale, a contemporary Pan-African concept that tells stories through food, art and culture and recent graduate from cohort two, was featured in the OFM50; Observer Food Monthly’s food favourites for 2022. In July, Tatale opened its debut restaurant at the Africa Centre to rave reviews. 'The programme has helped me personally and professionally and being part of Black Business Incubator, this year has made a world of difference'.  

A 2020 report by the British Business Bank found that businesses run by entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds consistently came up against systematic barriers, making them more likely to struggle to get their businesses off the ground.  As home to the UK’s largest community of creative enterprises, arts organisations, artists and makers, Somerset House uses its supportive and inclusive creative network to address this within its own sphere of influence, empowering early-stage Black-led creative businesses to grow.  

Jonathan Reekie, Director of Somerset House stated, ‘BBI is a brilliant example of the collective power of Somerset House's creative community. It was born out of a chance corridor conversation with Akil Benjamin, resident of Somerset House and director of Mentor Black Business, which identified the potential of partnership to create this important initiative’.  

Akil Benjamin, Founder and Director of Mentor Black Business stated, ‘It's not every day a social enterprise, cultural institution, financial services firm and partners come together to support Black entrepreneurs thrive. Starting this programme and watching it continue has been a career highlight, and watching our businesses succeed is all a part of a dream come true. I can't wait to see the achievements of cohort 3 over the next 12 months.’ 

Sanghamitra Karra, EMEA Head of the Multicultural Client Strategy Group at Morgan Stanley, stated: ‘Morgan Stanley is proud to sponsor the Black Business Incubator at Somerset House, helping to address the under representation of black-led businesses in the creative sector. By providing access and removing barriers to entry, the Black Business Incubator enables early-stage entrepreneurs to enhance their skills and create sustainable growth’.

Somerset House prioritises using its own distinctive creative ecosystem to nurture new talent from those who are underrepresented and underserved in the cultural sector. From the Future Producers and Upgrade Yourself to Somerset House Studios residencies, the Black Business Incubator and Exchange Bursaries, the ambition is to develop the widest span of creative talent across community, sector, race, gender, age and stage, supporting people with the skills, networks, experience and inspiration to build sustainable creative careers. 

With additional support from STRIDE, which creates opportunity, develops talent and supports creative and tech enterprises in South London. 

About Cohort 1:  somersethouse.org.uk/bbi/black-business-incubator-class-2021 

About Cohort 2:  somersethouse.org.uk/bbi/black-business-incubator-class-2022 

About Cohort 3: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/bbi/black-business-incubator-third-cohort