UK Black entrepreneurship has become a prominent talking point, most notably after the launch of The Black Business Show in 2017. Its popularity has shone a light on the uck Business Show - London.

Rahael Sofoluke

CEO and Founder of UK Black Business Show

'I wanted to create a platform to inspire and connect Black business owners and professionals. I knew that to be successful, I would need to do something that had never been accomplished before'.

Black entrepreneurship has become a prominent talking point, most notably after the launch of The Black Business Show in 2017. Its popularity has shone a light on the underrepresented Black entrepreneurs in the UK: with only 5.4% of small to medium size enterprises being run by majority Black and ethnic minority people in 2018. Statistics like these gave founder Raphael Sofoluke the inspiration and took the mantle by taking action and creating The UK Black Business Show, which aims to create a ‘progressive and positive’ space for Black entrepreneurs to be able to network amongst each other and create ‘meaningful connections’. Xcellence attended the UK Black Business Show, held at the Birmingham NEC in June, which was a sell-out event, with over 1,500 attendees, 100 exhibitors and 15 guest speakers. The highlight for us was hearing Akala, who gave a passionate and educated presentation about Black enterprise and capitalism. More recently, we attended the UK Black Business Show in London, held at the Business Design Centre in Islington on the 22nd October. This event was also a sell-out, with over 4,500 attendees, 200 exhibitors and 20 guest speakers. We caught up with some of the exhibitors, to ask why they feel that events like this are important and exactly how do they, as entrepreneurs, benefit?

Your Only Limit is your Imagination.

Kidpreneur Illora- Lee Louison, age 8, attended to promote her self-development journal. She is an extraordinary young girl, whose quiet eloquence explains the inspiration behind her creation, she explained. Kidpreneur Illora- Lee Louisone ‘So, at 4 years old, I could not speak English, my first language was French. Learning how to read, write and make friends was hard for me, but I managed. The idea for my business began when my mother bought me a self-development journal, which really helped me. I asked my mother if we could create our own journals. It took one year to develop our brand and source the products. We sell our journals through the business website and Instagram page. My schoolteacher's are very impressed and support my aspirations as a kidpreneur. Attending UK Black Business gives me the opportunity to meet other Black owned businesses and make connections that can help the business grow. Our biggest success so far has been selling over 300 journals to Microsoft. The objective is to help children to find happiness through getting to know who they are, using positive daily affirmations. My favourite affirmation is. 'I am a beautiful Black girl'.

On the 19th November, Ilorha, won the Trulittle scribe hero award, for her creation.

A massive congratulation to you, you are truely Xcellent. WELL DONE!

With this Self- Development Journal, children will have fun discovering their potential and meet the best version of themselves, when transitioning through childhood to adulthood.