As we all know the 8^{th of} March was International Women’s Day over the last few years there has been an increase in supporters and a massive increase in objectors to the concept. Year on year brands increasingly use International Women’s Day to promote their products.  Unlike Mother’s Day and Father’s Day brands do not give you the option to opt out of receiving their emails and promotions so I can completely see why some may be bothered by the concept. In fact, in recent years, Procter & Gamble rebranded washing-up liquid Fairy to Fair to make a point about gender equality in household labour; The Body Shop hosted a "female empowerment" pop-up featuring free makeovers, facials, massages and hair-braiding; BrewDog released a pink beer for girls; McDonald’s flipped its logo to make it look like a W; and Gap printed inspirational quotes from famous women on its T-shirts. I could go on.

However, in Barking and Dagenham as the title suggests we never do anything subtly and for the last nine years we have been celebrating Women’s Empowerment Month which incorporates the 8^th but has a whole month of promoting the work and achievements of the fabulous women in Barking and Dagenham both in history, and those playing an active role in whatever field in today’s world.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of Marianne a film made by Valentina Canavesio which documents the life of seven French Muslim women and their lives in France and the UK. One of the BEC’s best supporters Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader is featured, and it looks at her life in the UK in comparison to her counterparts and the issues with Public Buildings and the Hijab ban. It was a fascinating film, and I learnt a huge amount about French politics and how these seven women are battling stereotypes. Cllr Ashraf talked about the UK being home and her journey into settling; as a local from Barking and Dagenham I do not always see what others see about Barking and Dagenham; I have always felt that there are far more glamourous places to live, Monte Carlo, Nice or at the very least by the sea😊 but I guess I learnt how acceptance in a place and being free to be yourself is so important and that makes up your sense of home.

I was full of my night out at the screening the next day and then heard the depressing story of a friend’s daughter a 15-year-old young woman who was prevented by a funder of activities in school from talking about her chosen International Women’s Day topic. A keen footballer her topic was about the difference between male and female professional football, completely representative of the difference in the women’s play compared to the men, the press coverage for women’s football, and of course gender pay gap however, this deemed by the school and the funder to be too controversial. This is evidence to me that we are still not there yet! No thought given to how this young person may have felt having worked hard to prepare a balanced argument on the differences, no consideration of how incidents like this can destroy your confidence and prevent you from engaging in future opportunities to speak.

I fully expect to get a phone call from Cllrs about this who will be outraged however it thankfully was not a Barking and Dagenham school, so they will be able to stand down on this injustice. This has however left me feeling that Women’s Empowerment month is vital for our communities and of course my world of business support. So, here’s to another year of championing fabulous women and of course the men who support them, there are many that do thankfully!

As we approach the end of the year, we reflect on the confluence of crises and disruptions that have tested small businesses like never before: surging inflation, the war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices and a potential global recession. It is no surprise that companies have defaulted to defence mechanisms, fighting fire after fire without time for recovery.

What should be the priorities for the start of 2023

1. Resilience – well in the words of Julie Andrews let’s start at the very beginning. Resilience seems obvious, and is a real buzz word but if you take it back to basics it is vital for leaders and companies to build resilience in managing the constant state of disruption. The pandemic asked companies to move much faster, and now with no time to gather our thoughts and momentum, inflation is having a huge impact especially on our energy consumption. So a question to ask is are you sure that you and your business are resilient.
   
2. Courage – a very old-fashioned word but let’s be realistic being the owner or CEO of a business takes courage. It is very tempting with all the wider economy concerns to think about postponing plans, or scale back on growth initiatives.  The best leaders can manage the juggling act as in managing the downturn whilst using their courage to push for an upside. This is where your business plan is crucial as in not thinking about the next month, but the next year, two years. Don’t get me wrong financial forecasting for the next two years is incredibly challenging but it is an opportunity to reset strategy to ride out the current volatile times we are facing.
   
3. Developing new opportunities – in the height of the pandemic we supported lots of businesses to pivot their business model and embrace new opportunities, however some have returned to previous covid models and not looking at new opportunities. Horizon scanning is a key part of leading an organisation, opportunities rarely fall in your lap and using the first two priorities of resilience and courage go out and grab them.
   
4. Embracing the world of net zero – seems like a difficult subject for many small businesses but there are many small tweaks to business models which can improve your carbon foot print and ultimately may provide cost savings as well. Technology is always evolving, offering new opportunities to businesses looking to transform  and grow their business. This is something we can help with at the BEC using some software we have, we can chart your businesses current impact and offer support in ways of reducing your carbon footprint. This is not just good business its essential for climate change and our impact on the world.
   
5. Retention of staff and upskilling – across all industries there is a shortage of staff for all the reasons we have talked about, its vital to engage your staff and support them to be the best they can be. Whether that is providing new skills and opportunities or just making your business a nice place to work.

I completely get it, some of this can seem completely overwhelming and we at the BEC are always here to help. I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a great 2023 despite the challenges I am sure collectively we can ride out the storm.

As it comes to the end of the year, I like to look back on the BEC’s achievements and what we did in the year. It is so easy with the fast pace to forget some of the milestones, easy to remember the significant ones but sometimes the little ones which mean a lot get lost in the mix.

The two big achievements that spring to mind is that we won the SME News Best Business support initiative for East London in May this year. After a difficult couple of years throwing all our resources at helping the business community survive the pandemic we were delighted and for all involved in the BEC this was very welcome. We all like external validation let’s be honest.

 Secondly, we opened Three Sixty workrooms in July 2022, we are immensely proud of the space it’s a great space. I am not going to wear rose coloured glasses it still is a challenge in making it wash its face financially, but we have everything in place to make it successful. We found a company to support with the branding and the marketing which really got behind Three Sixty, and all this without ever having met face to face and being in various parts of the world. The power of technology, and thanks go to Jax and her team at Innocom. However, opening a new space was always going to be a challenge in the middle of a recession but we are not giving up.

With regards to what the BEC does best well we continued to support over 5000 businesses in 2022.  We delivered training on business planning, financial forecasting, brand story, social media and marketing and a few others to over 1200 business start-ups and SME’s.  Our reach on this training stretches wider than Barking and Dagenham and the surrounding areas in fact on some of the courses it has gone global with participants logging in from the US, Japan, and South Africa regardless of the time differences.

At the BEC we do things differently when it comes to business mentoring; there are support services who provide business mentoring; but our model is to use industry experts to provide the mentoring support. We want business owners with current knowledge to deliver this vital element of our service and we are delighted that in 2022 we delivered 1035 hours of mentoring.  In financial terms this is an investment for us of over £50k per year. Our mentors are fabulous, and we are lucky they are part of the BEC family, special thanks go to Andre Arundell and Paul Creavin for superb work this year in difficult circumstances and our congratulations to Andre for completing his MBA.

This was a great achievement with a family, a business to run and supporting the BEC and we are proud of him.

We are acutely aware of the situation in Barking and Dagenham with the recession and at the BEC we are committed to creating jobs for local people. We have begun work to bring all our outsourced roles in house and we have just recruited our caretaking team who will replace the security company we chose who were a start up themselves all those years ago. We will miss Blue Light and Sean Keelan, but the relationship will not be lost, I am sure.

We have continued to embrace partnerships there is one we are so proud of and that is the BD collective of which the BEC is a founding supporter. The BD collective is a network of networks which is reshaping how the social sector work together. In the last year we have seen such a change in the way organisations work together in trust and partnership as well as bringing in over £2.6 million pounds in contracts for services and through external funders into the borough supporting vital work with all residents. It has been a roller coaster of an initiative but its great to see it working in practice. The learning from this is brilliant and I would urge everyone who works for local government and public health to look at the art of the possible.

From a personal perspective it has been a year of highs and lows, I step down as Chair of a board after 15 years at the end of the year of which I am incredibly proud. It gave me a love of arts and culture which will be life long and I have met some great people. I am equally proud that the BEC is now the custodians of a great piece of art by Grayson Perry which was unveiled last week. The sculpture is a typical house on the Becontree estate which was one hundred years old last year. I still live in a road with houses like this, so it has huge sentimental value too. It was great to work with Create London to bring this to life.

Final note to thank my fabulous team at the BEC, we have a small core team who continue to be impressive none more than my work wife the long-suffering Donna Finley our fabulous Operations Director. Lastly to thank my great board of directors who support the BEC in a way that is hard to explain, always there but never micromanaging and that makes every day different at the BEC.

From all of us at the BEC happy holidays and here’s to 2023 whatever that may bring we can face it together 😊

Inspiration Lives Here by Grayson Perry. Commissioned by Create London, funded by Art Fund.

Silvano Griffith always had a passion for the arts, despite being discouraged from pursuing it by those around him. Nevertheless, he went on to found SVG Productions, a film production business with a focus on providing a voice for the marginalised and under-voiced in theatre. 

SVG Productions creates films and stage shows that tackle difficult social and faith-based issues with humour and sensitivity. Some of the topics they have covered include domestic violence, eating disorders, gun culture, Christian life in the 21st century and loneliness. Through her work in SVG productions, she hopes to create a better understanding of these issues and make a difference in the world.

This Black History Month, the Barking Enterprise Centre gives the spotlight to Silvano through a Q&A format as we get access to her work and challenges as both a black woman entrepreneur and filmmaker. 

 Tell us more about SVG Productions

SVG Productions is a creative business producing films and stage shows and offering creative solutions for workshops and conferences. Much of our work focuses on social and faith issues, tackling more difficult subjects with a combination of humour and sensitivity. We have covered topics such as domestic violence, eating disorders, gun culture, Christian life in the 21st century and loneliness to name a few.

We generate bespoke pieces for commissioners wishing to utilise the power of the arts in conveying their message.  From short sketches that can be performed as part of a conference to full-length productions suitable for main events, we can get our client's message across in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. 

In addition to this, I have also just launched a separate side to the business where I offer coaching for anyone interested in writing scripts, memoirs and novels. 

What inspired you to start your own business?

I have always had a flare for creativity and knew from a small child this was the path I wanted to take. My parents did not think creative work was sustainable and encouraged me to study ‘proper’ subjects at college. I wrote and produced my first play at the age of seventeen and later went on to study performing arts at University. After graduation, I followed parental advice to get a ‘proper job’. I worked at the BBC for a number of years and, after an initial eighteen-month sabbatical, resigned in 2013 to pursue my dream of acting and writing full-time. I somehow fell into producing and setting up SVG Productions. My vision was to provide a voice for the marginalised and under-voiced in theatre. 

How has your business changed or evolved since you first started it?

In the early days, my business was about writing and producing plays but it has evolved over the years. I went on to create films which was an entirely different ballgame and there was so much to learn. On the back of what I was doing, I was also offered speaking engagements which led to me setting up a speaking side to the business. Then, during the pandemic when all plays and filming were cancelled I introduced a new arm to the business in which I coach other writers. The coaching is for scriptwriters and authors helping them to get the submission of their manuscript ready. And, as a published author, I now also provide a service helping people who have written their first book get it published.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Black entrepreneurs today?

One of the biggest challenges facing black entrepreneurs in my option is overcoming stereotypes. Many business owners still have to fight the perception that their business is ‘less professional’ than that of their white counterparts. Accessing finance can also be problematic for many. 

How do you balance running a business with other priorities in your life?

Life for many people is busy in today’s world. For me, personally, the best way to balance running a business and other life priorities is to have a routine. I try to wake up and go to bed at a similar time most days and do my praying and reading at the same time each morning. My workout mornings are Mon-Wed and Fri and I do my best to attend the same exercise classes every week, scheduling meetings etc. around these times where I can so I don’t lose rhythm.  I also love writing To-Do lists each day and feel a sense of joy and satisfaction as I tick each item off throughout the day. Additionally, I have an accountability partner. This is someone I speak to each week and give an account of how I have spent my time. I think this is important as it keeps me focused knowing that, despite being my own boss, there is still someone else I need to report back to about my accomplishments and achievements for the week. Finally, I'm a great multitasker! 

What advice would you give to people in the Black community who are thinking about starting their own business?

My advice to anyone in the black community looking to start a business is first and foremost, don’t think of yourself as a black person wanting to start a business, just think of yourself as a person wanting to start a business. Do as much research as you can both inside and outside of your community. Approach others for help. See what your local Borough has to offer. The Barking Learning Centre offered me a lot of useful advice and help in the early days and it was all free. Make sure you have the support of family and close friends as it will be vital. Don’t be afraid to tweak your business plans slightly if what you first imagined doing does not work out. Give yourself time - Rome wasn’t built in a day but it was worked on every day.

How can people reach your business?

For my coaching and writing services I can be reached on https://www.silvanogriffith.co.uk/author  while for my production company, go to  https://www.svgproductions.co.uk   silvano@svgproductions.co.uk

Gloria Prescod, a plus size lady herself, understands the frustration of plus size brides trying on beautiful gowns in a shop only to be disappointed that there are never any plus sizes that actually fit. So she decided to do something about it and started an in-house bridal boutique L'amour Curves that specialises in stunning and affordable plus-size wedding dresses for the more curvaceous bride.

This Black History Month, the Barking Enterprise Centre shares the spotlight with Gloria through a Q&A format as we get access to her work and challenges as both a black woman entrepreneur and a wedding gown designer. 

Tell us more about L'amour Curves

L'amour Curves is an in-house bridal boutique based in London, specialising in stunning and affordable plus-size wedding dresses for the more curvaceous bride. With timeless, modern designs, paying attention to detail and not wavering on quality, we strive to ensure our brides have the most memorable day ever. 

Being a plus-size lady myself, I understand the frustration of walking into a shop and trying on beautiful clothes but being disappointed that there are never plus-sizes that actually fit.  We specialize in plus size bridalwear, veils, jewellery and accessories from British designers made to the highest quality.  Our tagline is: “Helping you look your best and feel even better”.  We have a body-positive ethos and believe that all shapes and sizes are beautiful!  If you are looking for a plus-size wedding dress that fits, then L’amour Curves Bridal Boutique is the plus-size bridal shop for you.

What inspired you to start your own business?

What started my journey down this route was the frustration of trailing around bridal shops, looking for a dress for my daughter who was also a plus-size bride and not being able to find anything suitable. We both felt frustrated by the fact that 99% of the shops we visited only went up to size14/16 and did not have dresses to fit curvy ladies. My daughter was actually told to hold the dress up against her and imagine what she would look like in it.  

The one shop we were able to find a couple of dresses to fit cost more than a month’s salary, and we were not willing to pay so much for a dress that she would be wearing for only a short period of time despite wanting a beautiful dress for her special day. We ended up buying her dress from an online website which needed quite a lot of alterations to fit and this gave me my light bulb moment.

"There is a gap in the market for reasonably priced plus size wedding dresses that can actually be tried on and fit comfortably" was the thought buzzing around in my head, and that is how L'amour Curves Bridal Boutique was born.  

With a lot of research, I took some courses in wedding planning and small business setups, sourced suppliers here in the UK and decided to open my in-house boutique focusing on curvy brides.  We choose to give our brides a private appointment (only one bride in the boutique at any one time) which they find very relaxing and comfortable and makes them feel special. L'amour Curves Plus Size Bridal is affordable with dresses starting from £499 with a luxury boutique experience and very high-quality customer service.

How has your business changed or evolved since you first started it?

My business is a fairly new one.  I was about to launch the business in April 2020 and as we all know that is when the pandemic started.  I had to close down and throughout the lockdowns, was unable to open as my business involves person-to-person contact.

I actually reopened about September 2021, but business was very slow, so, I decided to focus on marketing and using my social media (which my daughter helps me with) to increase my client footfall.  I also started attending wedding fairs and joining a few networking groups. I attended the Harrogate Bridal Show in September 2021 and the London Bridal show in March 2022.  My website has been updated and I am now being found on Google, Facebook and Instagram.  

Give me a year and I am sure I will be able to give you the great changes that I am expectant and looking forward to for my business.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Black entrepreneurs today?

Black Entrepreneurs have been affected by the recent pandemic as their businesses tend to operate within the sectors heavily impacted by the virus such as health and social care, hospitality and retail.  The lockdowns have been instrumental in the closures of lots of small businesses.

Another challenge facing the black entrepreneur is the lack of available funding and resources required from the government, high street banks and investors.  The lack of support is evident when you find that most black entrepreneurs tend to turn to family and friends for investments because they are unable to get start-up loans, business bank accounts and even overdraft facilities.

A lot of black-owned businesses tend to be run by sole traders as lack of funds to pay staff results in the owner having to perform every function of the business by themselves. Lack of funding also makes it difficult to scale their businesses and expand.

Even though it is a difficult subject for some, discrimination and racial equality are challenges black-owned businesses have to face when it comes to achieving a successful business.

How do you balance running a business with other priorities in your life?

I believe that achieving a work-life balance should be an entrepreneur’s ultimate goal.  Working hard to grow your business and succeed is important, but overdoing it can have negative effects.  The point of achieving success is to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

I use to-do lists, try to work reasonable hours, learn to delegate and say no when I need to. I take breaks during work hours and when I leave the office, I leave work there.  I make sure I schedule time for myself, family and friends because I think it helps my physical and mental health.  I take time to relax spending time with my husband, children and grandchildren.

What advice would you give to people in the Black community who are thinking about starting their own business?

Do a lot of research, and identify the needs of the communities where you would like to operate the business.  Educate yourself and find out as much as you can about your chosen industry.

Remember your goals and what you would like to achieve, be prepared to work hard, be resilient, focused and persevere, with a mindset of understanding that you can do whatever you put your mind to.

Try saving some money towards starting the business so when you approach investors/family/friends for help with funding, they know you are serious and are more willing to help.  Start small, making the most of whatever capital you can get and build on it to grow the business.  Use social media to your advantage.

Choose a niche, target your audience and be specific, understand your value and don’t feel you have to compromise.  Take chances by reaching out to mentors and people you would like to work with through networking in the community.

How can people reach your business? 

Website:     www.lamourcurves.com 
Instagram & Facebook:    @lamourcurves
Email:     info@lamourcurves.com
Telephone:  07726222577

As part of the Black History Month Spotlight Series, we at the Barking Enterprise Centre are featuring successful black entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the black community. Today we are featuring Cashain David who owns and runs Kromanti Rum

As an entrepreneur,  Cashain finds fulfilment in running a rum start-up inspired by secret recipes and stories handed down through generations of Caribbean families, many of whom are from the Windrush generation. Using this knowledge, he was able to create truly spiritual and authentic rums that capture the essence of the lived 'Rum' experience of black communities. 

Let us take a look at his experiences as a black entrepreneur and his passion for rum through this Q&A chat. 

Tell us more about your business.

At the Kromanti Distillery & Blending House, we are passionate about the social and cultural meaning of Rum and how it reinforces bonds, history and a sense of belonging.

What inspired you to start your own business?

The business was registered in 2019, but really took shape in 2022 during the first Covid lockdown in response to the dramatic loss of elders in the Black community and a burning desire to retain and bring to life some of the stories from the older generation in order to pass them on to the next generations.

The project started by recording personal stories, recipes and sayings; and later transformed into a business as feedback at our first public rum tasting confirmed the idea that personal stories drive engagement. 

How has your business changed or evolved since you first started it?

I am an undercover entrepreneur. During the day I worked in Mental Health responding to the challenges presented by the recent pandemic. In the darker hours, I found fulfillment in running a Rum start-up inspired by secret recipes and stories handed down through generations of Caribbean families, many of whom are from the Windrush generation. Using this knowledge, I was able to create truly spiritual and authentic Rums that capture the essence of the lived 'Rum' experience of our communities. We're always discovering new recipes, uncovering stories and interesting facts.

My initial business plan projected sales of £8,000 and this was doubled in the first year along with an award for our Rum in the International Wines & Spirits Competition ! The business worked on awareness of the brand through social media channels and achieved significant attention of online media in both the Rum Industry and wider online media.

To support Black History Month in 2021, dating app Bumble launched an initiative called ‘Small Business Grants’. The scheme pledged to provide ten black owned businesses with a share of £50,000 to support them in their recovery post-pandemic; Kromanti was one of the lucky recipients and using the funds provided by Bumble, Kromanti has created a video series which reinforces connections between the younger and older generation. These videos capture conversations about the interviewee’s life experiences with Rum and how it goes beyond being an alcoholic drink. Like Bumble, rum is about togetherness and sharing a moment.

The last 12 months has been a whirlwind of great feedback, good sales and an increasing level of awareness on social media and traditional media outlets resulting in the business obtaining its first global investor from the drinks industry. The plans for the next period involve further work on our branding and testing out different methods to engage with customers through our unique form of storytelling through ‘live’ events as we enter the on-trade.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Black entrepreneurs today?

1. Being Taken Seriously - the implicit association with a Black person is not 'business owner' and this then creates a barrier that needs to be overcome.

2. Equal Access to Funding - there now seems to be more low level startup funding, but as you step up into the next ladder, you will need to show collateral and pipeline to scale. These are also based on a belief in the ability to execute.

3. Lack of a Network of Supportive Institutions - This is a big one as you can be locked out of larger and more central networks who limit access to those who already look like them in lifestyle and education background.

How do you balance running a business with other priorities in your life?

Moving from a 9-5 job to being a business owner meant that I had to start managing my own time, plan my activities, and commit to my chosen priorities. More importantly, I needed to know exactly what satisfied me emotionally and what doesn’t didn't. In doing this I needed to be clear about what creates value for my customers, but also me and my family.

My best pieces of advice that help me in ensuring my work-life balance are;

• Plan your day, week, month, and year related to your business and non-business activities. Your plan must be based on your business and personal goals.
• Control your promises and achievement of everything that you plan for your business and your personal life.
• Create a list of top priorities. Forget low-priority items, don’t bother yourself with them.
• Use the same planner for work and non-work activities.
• Promise only what you can deliver to family and your clients/customers.
• Clearly define what is expected of you when it comes to your company and your family.
• Start listening to your body.

What advice would you give to people in the Black community who are thinking about starting their own business?

Be clear about your 'why.' This industry is swamped with new businesses that are riding on the crest of the Rum Boom and to have sustainability, you will need to have a clear personal mission to get you through the dark periods in sales, and future disruptions such as lockdowns.

How can people reach your business? 

Website: www.kromantirum.com

Email: cashain@kromantirum.com
Instagram: @kromanti_rum