Personalised, culturally appropriate business support makes all the difference
The Enterprise Support Programme, in partnership with Islington Council, offered free one-to-one consultancy sessions to eligible businesses as part of the Council’s pandemic recovery programme. Businesses spent the majority of their time working one-to-one with Action for Race Equality’s expert consultants and trainers.
Our consultants have years of experience supporting and strengthening Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic-led businesses. They endeavoured to address individual needs to help shape businesses post-pandemic futures.
To be eligible for the consultancy offer, applicants had to be:
- Registered as a limited company
- BAME-led, i.e. over 51% of their directorship is of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic descent
- Trading for a minimum of two years
- Generating revenues and have a turnover less than £250,000
- Able to demonstrate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Willing to work with consultants and attend workshops
The importance of culturally appropriate consultancy:
Both Action for Race Equality and Islington Council know that people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds experience different barriers to achieving success and/or positive outcomes in their lives and businesses.
Action for Race Equality’s consultants have lived experience and first-hand experience as business owners/entrepreneurs.
Receiving support from those who have experienced the same or similar issues/barriers brings greater value to the support being provided.
People feel comfortable working with those and in spaces where their realities are reflected back to them, meaning the journey to effective relationship building is often more open and trusting.
Meet the Enterprise Programme Consultants
Tutu is a specialist with over 20 years in business strategy and development, specifically in the education, employment and training sectors. In the past 3.5 years her work has focused solely on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic businesses. Her work spans bid writing, finance, workforce strategy, developing and implementing infrastructure, horizon (opportunity) scanning and sustainable business growth. In addition, her experience covers policy development, improvement and audit compliance and influencing programme development through strategic partnerships and collaborations to add value to business objectives and social impact.
Tutu is also one of the facilitators for our business support masterclasses.
Alex Louis offers strategic communications, change and project management consultancy. She has over 30 years of experience in corporate communications, marketing small to medium-sized business, interim management, programme/project management, internal communications and employee engagement, media relations, crisis communications, change management, and strategy. Her sessions offer an insight into business change and development, social media, IT adoption (Microsoft 365), website development and the relationship between marketing and sales to help bring ideas to life online and make them visible to customers and beneficiaries.
Alex will also be facilitating a selection of businesses support masterclasses with a social media, systems and communications perspective.
Interested in joining our pool of expert trainers and consultants to help deliver exciting projects like this? We’re always interested in talking with experienced, passionate people who share our approach to supporting organisations.