Today [Thursday] Keir Starmer held a virtual roundtable meeting with Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) business owners to discuss the pressures facing BAME-led businesses due to Covid-19.

The event was the latest in a series of consultation sessions for Labour’s review into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, led by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.

The meeting heard concerns about BAME-led businesses being less likely to have received Government support during the pandemic. Around half of BAME-led businesses surveyed by one participant had not applied for government schemes, with many thinking they would not qualify.

Analysis of loans delivered via the Government’s ‘Future Fund’ support scheme for start-ups has found that 43% have an all-white senior management team, whilst less than 5% are all-BAME.

Alongside Starmer and Lawrence, others in attendance at the meeting included Marsha de Cordova MP, Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary; Anneliese Dodds MP, Shadow Chancellor; and Chi Onwurah, Shadow Minister for Digital, Science & Tech and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic Business Owners.

 

During the meeting, Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“For many businesses, the coronavirus crisis has been a day-to-day, week-to-week struggle.

“This is a pandemic the likes of which we have never seen. And it has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. It has picked away at inequalities which were already there.

“The coming economic challenge is going to be profound. There is a genuine fear that we will see unemployment on a scale we have not seen for many years.

“I am very grateful to the business owners who attended today for sharing their experiences and suggestions.”

 

Tom Adeyoola, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Extend Ventures, said:

 

“We did a recent survey which showed that 48% of BAME-led businesses weren’t even applying for government schemes because they didn’t think they would qualify.

“We need to improve diversity data in business. The community urges the major banks, British Business Bank and government to improve their diversity data monitoring and reporting.  You can’t impact what you don’t measure.

“There is also a lack of organisations getting the word out into communities. We need to build up trust.”

 

Dee Gibson, owner of Velvet Orange Interior Design, said:

 

“Everything fell off the cliff when we went into lockdown. We have important costs that need to be covered.

“We need to consider businesses more individually and look at how we can phase people back in. It seems like suddenly the plug’s being pulled, but the problem hasn’t gone away.”

 

Minal Patel, founder of Marketing by Minal, said:

 

“I live in a very diverse community in Hayes & Harlington. The challenge has been reaching those smaller businesses and helping them understand how they can apply for loans. Because a lot of the paperwork is so involved that they don’t even know where to start.

“There has to be outreach, but once that outreach happens, business owners can’t just be left with a pile of papers. Without help for these business owners at the grassroots, I think a lot of businesses that are led by people of colour are going to miss out.”

 

Shermeena Rabbi, founder of Unlocking Language, said:

 

“We have had conflicting information on PPE. We’ve made the decision not to open our physical clinic until September because we feel it’s not safe enough. We’re in a community where there is a high number of Bangladeshi people, and we already know that Bangladeshi people are at 50% higher risk.

“Half of my workforce are also BAME, so I am looking for more guidance on how to protect my workforce.”

Business owners participating in the roundtable included:

  • Tom Adeyoola, tech entrepreneur, Do Nation, Verco, Extend Ventures
  • Shah Athar, Director, Curry Connect
  • Joel Beya, Founder and CEO, CheekySport Ltd
  • Paul Bhangal, Professor and CEO, London+
  • Amarachi Clarke, Founder, Lucocoa Chocolate
  • Dee Gibson, Owner, Velvet Orange
  • Vanessa Hewitt, Founder, Hewitt Support
  • Liz Ige, Founder, Know Your Worth Ltd
  • Anisa Morridadi, Founder and CEO, BeatFreeks
  • Shazia Mustafa, Founder, Third Door
  • Minal Patel, Founder, Marketing by Minal
  • Raphael Sofoluke, Founder, UK Black Business Show
  • Shermeena Rabbi, Founder, Unlocking Language

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