Black British Business Awards: Promoting Business Excellence

The inaugural Black British Business Awards, backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, is open for nominations. Awards will celebrate outstanding achievements of black British business leaders, and kick-start efforts to inspire and mobilise future generations of black British business people.

A recent study commissioned by executive recruitment consultancy Green Park showed that more than half of FTSE100 companies have no non-white leaders at board level, whether executive or non-executive; and two-thirds have no full-time minority executives at board level.

In light of this, and to support and promote business excellence, the Black British Business Awards aim to uncover inspirational role models and ambassadors who represent the very best of business success.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have lent their support to the first Black British Business Awards, sponsored by EY and partnering with DiversityJobs.co.uk.

The Prime Minister said: “I’m delighted to back the inaugural Black British Business Awards that will celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution of black business people in the UK. From financial services and technology to retail and manufacturing the list of extraordinary talent in Britain’s African-Caribbean community goes on and on.

“And while established businessmen and women will be rightly awarded for their outstanding achievements, it seems they're also acting as great role models too with more and more new black entrepreneurs coming to the fore."

"The fact that 20% of loans from the Government-backed Start-Up loans scheme, which helps to kick start new enterprises, go to people of African-Caribbean heritage demonstrates the deep well of entrepreneurial talent we have in our country."

Make your nomination here

The following categories will recognise two individuals in each industry award category:

Rising Star – Awarded to a black business person under 28 who is excelling in their organisation, a ‘one to watch’.

Leader – Awarded to a black senior business person excelling within their organisation.

• Financial Services (includes in-house professionals)
• Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG, includes retail)
• Infrastructure and Manufacturing (includes transportation, built environment, power and utilities)
• Media and the Arts (includes media, publishing, advertising, entertainment)
• Professional Services (includes law, accounting, management consultancy)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM, includes health professionals)

Sophie Chandauka, Co-Founder and Chair of the Judging Panel of the Black British Business Awards commented: "Theres no doubt that seeing is believing. This is important as we begin this very important conversation about the representation of black professionals in the boardroom. If chairmen of significant corporations apparently do not fully appreciate that we represent excellence in leadership, there may be no impetus for them to insist on ensuring that the recriutment agencies put forward more black candidates for directorships. Equally, every child in this country should be able to see a version of themselves as having the potential to be all that they can be, whether it be in the workforce or as an entrepreneur."

The deadline for nominations is Tuesday 27th May 2014.

Click here to submit a nomination