ABOUT SUPPORT HUB
Welcome to Black Business Network’s support hub, powered by Lloyds Bank. We have created a directory of business resources and organisations that support Black and diverse entrepreneurs for the lifecycle of their businesses. The information has been curated by members of the Lloyds Bank Black Business Advisory Committee, providing a central hub to help navigate to useful information: from funding to mentoring.
We recognise this isn’t an exhaustive list, so should you have any recommendations or information on organisations you think should be included, please contact us.
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PARTNERS TO SUPPORT BLACK ENTREPRENEURS
BLACK BUSINESS NETWORK
A corporate event and media company, designed to strengthen business connections, financing and knowledge in the black community. Hosting annual conferences, expos, workshops, and networking events; while bringing you the latest news and engagement on social media. Showcasing talent, professionalism and business
MENTORING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - SUPPORTED BY LLOYDS BANK
LLOYDS BANK ACADEMY
BE THE BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE MENTORING SCHEME
SCHOOL FOR ENTREPRENEURS
SSE help 1,000s' people a year develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems. In turn, they help 3.4 million people in need. We run courses that equip people to start, scale and strengthen organisations that make a positive difference. But we’re not a traditional school. Learning with SSE is inspiring, action-based and accessible.
We support people in other ways too, such as funding and mentoring.
SUPPORT NETWORKS LED BY BLACK COMMUNITY GROUPS
BLACK BUSINESS NETWORK
BBN brings Black entrepreneurs together through networking events and an engaging online community. Aiding business owners in building strong professional and community relationships in unique, safe spaces for fun, supportive & inclusive debate; and knowledge exchange.
THE BLACK POUNDS PROJECT
BLACK SOUTH WEST NETWORK
BLACK VALLEY
Community: We are a diverse and supportive community that champions black talent in technology
Mentoring: Black Valley runs a bespoke 8-week immersive mentoring tech programme
Project Exposure: Mentees will get practical project exposure to enhance their portfolio and CV
CODING BLACK FEMALES
We are a nonprofit organisation, and our primary aim is to provide opportunities for Black female developers to develop themselves, meet familiar faces, network, receive support and build relationships through having regular meetups.
COLORINTECH
Colorintech was started in 2016 to spark action, create community and help increase diversity in Europe’s tech economy.
LOVE CIRCULAR
MSDUK
MSDUK brings together innovative and high growth ethnic minority businesses with global corporations committed to creating an inclusive and diverse supply chain
UK BLACK TECH
UKBlackTech is an innovation group that is on a mission to make the UK the most ethnically diverse tech ecosystem in the world. To make this happen we need to see equity, transparency and representation at decision making level in tech.
ANGEL GROUPS & FUNDS
ADA VENTURES
Bold Investment for overlooked founders and markets. Bold ideas are the ones that change the world. They're ideas that find something completely new, flip categories upside-down, or see the world from an entirely different perspective.
Our focus is to discover and build the possibility of these bold ideas, and provide investment to support the incredible founders behind them.
Whoever and wherever they are.
COMMUNITY GROWTH VENTURES
Community Growth Ventures (CGV) is a London based angel investor group on a mission to invest and support underrepresented founders.
We are focused on investing in pre-seed and seed stage startups led by underrepresented founders in the UK. We leverage our operational experience and networks to help founders go from initial traction to a growing business.
CORNERSTONE PARTNERS
Cornerstone is an angel investment network focused on investing in businesses owned and run by black and diverse founders.
With this focus we aim to increase diversity in business and remove barriers to funding for individuals from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the UK business market today
IMPACT X CAPITAL
Impact X is a double bottom line venture capital company, founded to support underrepresented entrepreneurs across Europe.
Having identified an underserved and undersaturated niche of founders with compelling business models, Impact X sources uniquely differentiated deal flow to generate returns for investors.
DEBT FUNDERS SUPPORTING BLACK FOUNDERS
CREATIVE ENGLAND
FUNDING FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, NON-PROFITS & SOCIAL IMPACT BUSINESSES
BETHNAL GREEN VENTURES
Europe’s leading early-stage tech for good VC.
We invest in ambitious founders using technology to tackle big social and environmental problems that aim to radically improve millions of lives
CHORUS NETWORK
CHORUS NETWORK MATCHES INVESTORS WITH IMPACT STARTUPS.
Chorus looks for exceptional startups that have developed a financially attractive business plan with an equal commitment to addressing social or environmental issues