The Black, Asian Ethnic Minorities (BAME) Business Excellence Awards will see local businesses and business owners come together.
DIVERSITY BUSINESS Incubator (DBI) is organising the first Black, Asian Ethnic Minorities (BAME) Business Excellence Awards in Plymouth. The event also marks DBI’s official launch.
The awards will be the first of their kind in Devon and aims to thank business owners for their contribution to the city, increase entrepreneurship within the BAME community and recognise the economic impact of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority businesses in the region.
The invitation only event will see local businesses, business owners - who have been real community champions - social enterprises, languages schools, university departments, Plymouth City Council, the Mayflower 400 programme and many others come together to witness the start of such an innovative concept and recognise the work of some inspirational individuals.
Many of these owners are also a point of reference for their customers who rely on them for guidance and support.
Jabo Butera one of DBI’s directors says: "DBI aims to push forward the agenda of social and responsible entrepreneurship among its primary target groups. One of our key objectives is to ensure that individuals who have come to settle in Plymouth and across Devon are encouraged, enabled and guided to put their business skills to use.
"3 out of 5 people who have come from different horizons of the world have arrived with experience of having run a business or with the perfect skills to start a business venture. Among those target groups are refugees who have sought sanctuary in Britain and have settled in the area.
"Half of the Refugees seek to work and contribute or pursue education. The other half have only run businesses in their homeland and all they aspire to do is to resume their activities, so DBI is keen that those skills are not wasted.
"Many individuals have told us ‘how can we be great contributors and how can we be at the giving end rather than just at the receiving end because we simply need a little bit of support to become enablers for our families and communities?’ DBI aims to do just that, enabling people to contribute."
Diversity Business Incubator is a community interest company registered in England and Wales. DBI was founded by 3 Directors who all share the vision and passion to increase the economic contribution and impact of people from, but not exclusively, Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups living mainly in Plymouth and across Devon.
DBI aims to be the main hub for individuals who need:
- Support and advice about starting a business
- Coaching to progress their business venture
- Information and guidance for self-employed individuals facing barriers as self-employed
- A hub for Plymouth to see the birth of new ventures and new business ideas that enable people who have settled here to bring their business skills alive
- Increase the economic impact of existing businesses by coaching business owners
- Run a yearly annual awards aimed at recognising business owners who have excelled in responsible entrepreneurship and have positively contributed to their local community
Entering and subsequently winning awards makes your company shine and sets it apart from your competition. Here are few benefits the individual or the organisation winning an award gets:
- Elevate the status of your company: Awards can raise the credibility of your company, its brand and products. An award also increases visibility for your company.
- Educate and attract: Awards can draw new customers and new employees to your business.
- Improve company morale: Current employees are excited to share the news of an award with others. Awards can also build motivation within your team.
- Increase customer loyalty: Knowing that you are skilled and recognised for your work, team, product or service encourages customer loyalty and drives sales.
This great idea has been welcomed by many organisations from the social enterprise and business sectors as a great way to push the social entrepreneurship agenda and enable business owners to think about supporting communities and the world around them.
Plymouth University Formation Zone, the Law Clinic, Futures, Open Doors Language School and POP+ are among our key partners. We would love you to be part of this great and new start in the city, but as this is by invitation only please contact us to secure an invitation.
DBI is keen to collaborate and work with business owners, businesses and individuals who can contribute to our work. So any skills that people can offer please get in touch by email at jabo@dbidevon.net or call us on 01752 588974.
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