With support from Mastercard, Be the Business is empowering ethnic minority business owners from micro and small businesses around the country
With support from Mastercard, Be the Business is empowering ethnic minority business owners from micro and small businesses around the country
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Our mission
Working together to help ethnic minority business owners grow in the digital economy
Our mission at Be the Business is to get the UK economy back on its feet by supporting the key people that make this happen – small business owners.
Whilst we have had some success working with small business owners overall in the last four years, our challenge has been to effectively reach some of the most entrepreneurial minds in the country – business owners from black, Asian and other minority backgrounds.
Research consistently shows that outcomes for ethnic minority business owners and entrepreneurs are worse than those for the general business population in the areas of productivity, turnover and non-financial goals, despite higher than average levels of entrepreneurialism and innovation. We want to help change this.
As a partner of Mastercard’s Strive UK initiative, our programme aims to transform the performance of black, Asian and other minority businesses in the UK by connecting leaders from this community to the resources they need to succeed in the digital economy.
Striving Forward is the fortnightly newsletter of our Strive programme. Each edition contains a spotlight on an inspirational business owner from an ethnic minority background, one actionable business idea you can use, and details of events and other resources you can take advantage of. Have a look at our newsletter archive if you'd like to get a better idea of what each one contains.
About Strive UK
Empowering small businesses for a digital future
Strive UK, an initiative of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, is supporting the resilience of Britain’s entrepreneurs, connecting them with the right digital technology and skills tailored to their business.
Stories
Be inspired by these success stories
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case study page
I’ve now got goals designed to be realistic and achievable
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case study page
My mentor challenged me in a good way
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case study page
In business, you don’t know what you don’t know
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case study page
I’d still be grappling around chasing sales without my mentor
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case study page
This kind of help will categorically help you run a better business
Support programmes
Our programmes
Mentoring
Boards
Tech adoption
Resources
Resources for business leaders
Being a mentor has helped me keep my ideas fresh
The biggest benefit is their role as a sounding board
How one accidental business leader learnt to successfully guide her company
A strong digital presence has never been more important
Identify future skills to stay competitive in business
Investing in your business is the key to a lasting future
Top tips for good management
Hiring and supporting your first employees
Introduction to learning to become a better leader
Setting up a health and wellbeing survey
This survey template will help you understand your employees' health and wellbeing situation in depth.
How to boost employee motivation without salary increases
Introduction to seeking external digital support for your business
How to keep your cash flow forecast up to date
Visiting another business inspired new ways of working
Receive our Strive newsletter
Request a call back
Still got questions?
If you'd still like more detail about our programmes, resources and support then we're on hand to provide you with whatever information required. Pick a time that works for you and we'll give you a call to discuss your query.
Case studies
Video case studies
Lola Bejide
"My business has definitely been rewarded by having a mentor." With 20 years of experience in investment banking as a senior business manager, Lola Bejide started her own business, Soluman Consultancy. Two years in, she realised she needed a mentor and found Be the Business Mentoring after an online search. The results, Lola said, speak for themselves. Hear how being clear on her objectives helped Lola get the most from her mentor in the video.
Morin George-Douglas
"Having a mentor opens a different perspective and allows you to grow." Morin George-Douglas had always been an employee, but she took the leap to open her own business, Tamayo, when her previous employer closed. By working with a Be the Business mentor, she’s been able to talk through her vision and strategy, gaining confidence and new perspectives in the process. Watch the video to hear Morin’s experience of Be the Business Mentoring.
Ainara Adnan
"We entrepreneurs think we can do everything and that’s a fallacy – we need people." Ainara Adnan, founder of womenswear brand Nea Wear, felt that she had outgrown herself and was battling imposter syndrome when she found Be the Business Mentoring. Being paired with a fellow female entrepreneur boosted her self-confidence and helped her become a better leader. Watch the video to hear Ainara’s experience of Be the Business Mentoring in her own words.