EMBBN Founding Members
A newly established not-for-profit organisation has been making an impact on the local area as it seeks to support black enterprise and inspire the next generation of black business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The East Midlands Black Business Network was born from a desire for change. All too often, black businesspeople and professionals are under-represented in business and in management positions.
The organisation is made up of four key components – firstly, a business directory, for members to list their businesses. Secondly, a business support service, where members can access exclusive discounts for products and services that will help them in their careers and businesses. Thirdly, mentoring from other key members of the group and an invitation to all exclusive networking events.
EMBBN held their first networking event for Diamond club members on Tuesday 17th September. Held at the Queen Victoria Art Club in Leicester, over 35 people came to the event.
There was a talk by local businessman Zed Sheikh, Director of the Clifton Packaging Group about his journey to success and a number of young people who are doing great things in the region were invited for future mentoring.
EMBBN was founded by a number of prolific local black professionals. Mark Esho is the Founder of Easy Internet Services and Easy Internet Solutions and also a disabled entrepreneur, best-selling author and motivational speaker.
David McFarlane is now retired from the Metropolitan Police Service (New Scotland Yard), London after 30 years continued service. During this period he was instrumental in establishing a national support project, hosted by the Home Office for ten years, as its National Coordinator.
Gina Samuel is a co-Director and Solicitor at AGR Law. AGR Law celebrated its 2nd birthday as a regulated practice in May and has recently won the Leicestershire Law Society Small Firm of the Year.
Ashiedu Joel (JP) is the founder of Ashioma Consults Limited. She has over a decades’ experience of supporting organisations, groups and individuals to engage constructively across racial, cultural and socio-environmental boundaries while promoting opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.
Sandra Pollock is a multi-award-winning Director with over three decades of experience in leadership, management, people development and organisational change. In addition to running two companies, she is also an author, Radio and TV Presenter, and founder of the East Midlands Women’s Awards.
And finally, Curtis Matthew award-winning SFEDI accredited business advisor with over 25 years’ experience in business start-up and development within the private, charitable and social enterprise sector.
Each founder firmly believes that as individuals, we can achieve great things but together we can achieve even more – and this is exactly what EMBBN hopes to achieve.
EMBBN is open to anyone who identifies themselves as being black or of African heritage.
For more information on the East Midlands Black Business Network please visit: www.embbn.com.
