The Islington Business Resilience programme ran from September 2024 to March 2025, supporting 32 micro and small businesses trading in the borough. Funded by Islington Council and delivered in partnership with Action for Race Equality (ARE), the programme was designed in response to the challenges many local businesses continue to face in an uncertain economic climate.
The aim was simple: to strengthen resilience, provide targeted support, and help businesses plan for sustainable growth.
It was set up to reach underrepresented groups who would not usually access business support and grant funding programmes run by the council.
Recognising that businesses led by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, women, and disabled entrepreneurs often face additional barriers to finance and business support, the programme placed a strong emphasis on inclusivity. Islington Council recognises these unique barriers and is working closely with Action for Race Equality to provide culturally tailored support for Black, Asian and Minority ethnic owned businesses in the borough.
What the Programme Offered
The programme was shaped around practical learning and tailored business support. Participants benefited from:
Discover more about the entrepreneur’s stories…
Who Took Part
The programme welcomed small and micro businesses across Islington.
While open to all eligible businesses, it particularly encouraged applications from underrepresented groups, including:
- Business leaders from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds
- Women business leaders
- Disabled entrepreneurs
- Businesses in sectors most affected by economic pressures such as hospitality, retail, arts, service, creative, and manufacturing.
Programme participants
- Basement 144
- Black Excellence CIC
- Business Coaching & Consultancy
- Choices
- City Express/ City Flora & Plants
- Divine House of Makeup by Isang
- Digital Alchemy
- Go Africa Community Hub CIC
- Happy Dim Sum
- LDTherapies
- Lesley’s Sauces
- Marbles Effective
- Marogmi
- Matilde Mozzanega Jewellery
- MHA Structural Design
- Mindful Beauty London
- Minoos Gown
- NEMI Teas
- Pavé Designer Jewellery
- Raquel de Carvalho
- Renpowerment
- Sacred8 Creative Services
- Smoky Chick
- The London Jungle
- Twipes
- Upya Essence CIC
The programme was delivered by ARE with support from senior consultants/associates, Tutu Adebiyi and Alex Louis.
Pay a higher price
One of the biggest barriers facing Black, Asian and Minority owned businesses is the lack of funding available to them.
Despite accounting for 14% of the UK’s population, only 1.7% of venture capital investments between 2009 and 2019 were awarded to entrepreneurs where all team members were from ethnically diverse backgrounds. When looking at black women specifically, this figure goes down to 0.02% (Extend Ventures, 2020).
Lack of mentorship (especially from those who share their unique experiences), having less generational wealth passed down and not having access to the same business networks and opportunities as their white counterparts are all other issues faced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic entrepreneurs.
ARE is aware of the unique potential of Black, Asian and Minority ethnic-led enterprises. These businesses are estimated to contribute £25 – £32 billion to the UK economy per year.
Since 2002, entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds have reported typically higher levels of entrepreneurial activity, and are more likely to engage in processes of business innovation (Federation of Small Businesses, 2020).
However, many business leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds are reluctant to the idea of taking loans to further business aspirations. This hesitancy has increased during the COVID-19 crisis due to an uncertain economic environment, and a reduced likelihood of finding finance for their businesses.
Discover more about each strand of the programme below.
“There were certain areas in the business where I wasn’t necessarily fully confident in my own understanding… I felt like it [Business Resilience Programme] was a great opportunity to reach out to people in the field who might be able to help.”
Ashana, founder of Basement 144 [Programme particpant]
For more information on the Islington Business Resilience programme, please contact Project Support Officer, Tara Shah.
Business Skills Guides
Download the ARE Business Skills Guide to Business Planning.
Written by business consultant Tutu Adebiyi, this short guide tells you what to you need to think about when you’re planning your new business.