BE Mogul - a new publication celebrating the contribution of black British business owners launches in London on 4 February 2016.
BE Mogul cover
The launch ceremony hosted by NatWest Bank will attract the attendance of over 50 of the most innovative and successful black business owners featured in the publication. According to the organisers, the "exclusive event will highlight and showcase the movers-and-shakers in the Black British business industry."
In addition to the showcasing profiles of successful nominees, the publication highlights the contribution of entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean origin to the UK economy and society.
Mavis Amankwah, CEO of Rich Visions and co-founder of BE Mogul is very excited about the inaugural publication. She said: “BE Mogul provides a platform for positive business role models, who may not have been recognised in the mainstream media, to inspire and encourage others. We want to shout loud and proud about the positive economic contribution black-owned businesses are making in Britain today.”
Daniel Thompson, Enterprise Director for NatWest, said: “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the UK economy and NatWest is delighted to have the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the important contributions made by the black business industry.
“For the first time ever, there are over 5 million businesses in the UK. Our research has shown that nearly half of Britons would love to be self employed, but are held back by the belief that there isn’t enough support in their local area in terms of advice, knowledge and funding.
“As by far the biggest supporter of SMEs in the UK, NatWest is committed to identifying ways to help and support entrepreneurs. Working with BE Mogul will give us the opportunity to highlight the hard work and innovation demonstrated by these entrepreneurs while providing inspiration for budding entrepreneurs both in the black community and across the UK.”
BE Mogul logo
Official messages of support have come from 10 Downing Street, GLA and also Levi Roots.
Boris Johnson praises the contribution that Black Britain makes to society. He said: “Over 1.2 million Londoners are of black descent, almost 16% of our city’s population. It is obvious that black businesses and entrepreneurs have a vital role to play in our future prosperity, bringing innovation and dynamism, as well as links to overseas markets. From finance to design and retail to food, black entrepreneurs are already making a huge contribution to our city’s success.”
Concluding, Mavis Amankwah noted that "Today there are many successful Black British entrepreneurs, some of whom have worked hard against all odds to make it. Unfortunately, they’re not always acknowledged for their hard work. That’s the inspiration behind the BE Mogul publication. BE Mogul aims to encourage this positive evolution by bringing successful black businesses to the attention of the mainstream media and the wider business community across the UK."