Hosted by Lord Dr Hastings, with guest speakers Dr Carlton Brown, founder of BBEC, and Elizabeth Olafioye, 2nd year student at University of Westminster and founder of TRUSKN, I haven't laughed that hard, eaten that much good food, or felt that inspired from any event in a long time.

Here are some more facts about the organisation and future events:

The success of the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference at its inaugural launch in 2022, has demonstrated the demand, viability, and importance of diversity within public, private, and third-sector organisations.

The Black Entrepreneurs Report (BER) 2021, highlighted that access to the supply chain is prohibited through what is identified as the Race Paradox - 'Whilst there is a growing appetite to deliver real change, institutions are shackled by their systemic, social, cultural, and structural mindsets. The consequence is what is now conceptualised as the Race Paradox, which is the inherent dichotomy organisations encounter daily when addressing the structural inequalities and disparities surrounding diversity and inclusion when deciding on doing business with BACD entrepreneurs'. BER 2021

With the goal to attempt to “level up” opportunities in real terms, The UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference has launched Meet the Buyer Pitch For Success, where independent brands will have the opportunity to pitch to top retailers, with the chance of being stocked by nationwide retailers, wholesalers, and online retailers, including: Tesco, Selfridges, Wakuda, Cotswold Fayre and The Black Farmer (The Hatchery). Meet the Buyer Pitch for Success is designed to bring together organisations that want to access new talent, new businesses, and new markets.

The opportunity is open to UK Black, African Caribbean, Black mixed heritage, diaspora businesses, registered in the UK who have a goal and vision to secure shelf space for their products in some of the UK’s top retailers.

Applicants and the shortlisted will have gone through a user-friendly, application process that will provide the necessary information the retailers require to ensure product compliance and the ability to fulfil demand.

Dr Carlton Brown, author of the report and founder of the conference stated: “Meet the Buyer Pitch for Success is a tangible result of meaningful collaboration and networking, that has provided significant access for Black Entrepreneurs. It is a credit to the retailers that they are actively, and tangibly ensuring that their words and actions are aligned”. - Current organisations that have signed up to participate in the pitch for success are; Tesco, Selfridges, The Black Farmer (The Hatchery), Cotswold Fayre, and Wakuda (Online retailer).

Dr Brown continued, “Although this is just a start, we believe that we are shining a light on the institutional and structural barriers within the supply chain, and also providing a solution to the disparity that exists”.

The opportunity is to open doors to those who have a food or beauty/well-being product range that they want to sell to a wider audience. Six brands will then have the opportunity to pitch for real-life listing(s).

Thanks again to Nicola for inviting me, and I look forward to the next one!