The movers and shakers of the Nottingham business world have attended a special event to help boost companies from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
Partners across the city joined forces to host the BME Boost Your Business event on the 30th of September. The breakfast morning was all about showing people how they can grow their businesses, including advice on innovating and access to funding.
Ethnic minority businesses are hugely important to the 
UK’s economy. They contribute £3 billion worth of Gross Value Added each year, and this continues to grow. Many of these businesses are valued for their role in promoting social cohesion and inclusion. For example – ethnic minority businesses play an important role in the social adaptation and integration of new migrants in their local areas.
Recent Government figures suggest that BME businesses account for around 7% of small and medium sized businesses across the UK, with higher concentrations in the main urban areas like Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Leeds and London. But just over 20% of the current UK working population are from black and minority ethnic groups. It’s hoped events like this will support and encourage entrepreneurship in these communities.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “Some of Nottingham’s fastest growing businesses are run by the BME community. That’s why we want to make sure that these brilliant businesses know about all of the support that’s available to power them forward.
“While we at the City Council are fully committed to supporting all business growth in and around the City as much as we can, we are especially keen to engage with black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs which is why we set up this event.
“The black and minority ethnic business community is a vital part of Nottingham’s economy and we want to do all we can to help your businesses prosper and grow, and to encourage the next generation of BME entrepreneurs.”
Nottingham City Council’s Growth Hub, Gifted4Good, Nottingham Trent University and D2N2 all made presentations at the event.
Trusty S Gushure, the CEO for Gifted4Good and Chairman for Equality and Fairness Commission and Nottingham International Business Ambassador facilitated the event, pictured left with Gillian Mothobi, said: “Businesses leaders from across the city attended the event and it was a great success. I want to thank all our supporters and fellow businesses in the city for all their support. This even has really helped local BME businesses to find out about support and funding they can access, how innovation can boost their bottom line and it gave everyone a chance to network with other BME business leaders.”