Start Up
Eight tips for raising tomorrow’s black entrepreneurs today
The next Amazon or Ebay could be launched in your home. In fact, it could be coming from one of your children. Today’s black children have an excellent understand of the world of opportunities the internet provides. Because of this fact, it should come as no surprise that many young black entrepreneurs are pursuing their entrepreneurial goals as early as six or seven years old.
These big ambitions for such young children need to be cultivated, and as a parent, you can help raise tomorrow’s black entrepreneurs today. From engaging games to teaching kids about money to advise on credit, here are BLOWN’s Eight tips for raising tomorrow’s black entrepreneurs today:
1. Promote curiosity in everything
Children have amazing minds. It is often said that it is easier for a child under the age of seven years old to learn a second language than it is for adults. Why? Unlike adults, children are continually absorbing information and in education on a daily basis.
Promoting curosity will help shape tomorrow’s black entrepreneurs today
Curiosity involves asking questions, finding answers or creating solutions, and not being afraid of failure. Research has shown that when children question and examine what is around them, they do better at school, in relationships, and at work. Help them take online learning classes or find opportunities to do projects that relate to their interests and ideas.
2. Show them you are listening
One of the most important pillars of being a good parenting is letting your kids know you understand and support them. Children’s minds are always changing and growing. One week they may want to be an astronaut while the following week they want to be a veterinarian. These flip-flopping ideas may make it tempting to smile and nod when your little one expresses their desires, but don’t be so quick to say no.
Listening to young black entrepreneurs is key to their development
If your child wants to be a fashion designer, buy them some plan T Shirts and help them with some early designs. It will cost you some money but see it as an important investment. Yes, the mind of a child can change from one minute to the next, but as parents, helping your children grow and explore new ideas will help them their ideas seriously.
3. Get them to understand money early
Given how important financial skills are to navigating life, it’s surprising that schools don’t teach children about money. As a parent, however, you can teach your child important financial lessons — and you should. These lessons can begin from as early as 3 years old. There are many interactive ways to do this such as giving your child a budget to spend when you are in a supermarket.
Rather than handing over £3 and saying ‘get what you want’, set them a task. “You have £3 and you need to buy 3 items and have at least 50p change. You can also start discussing you financial decisions such as why you budget.
As the child grows older, you can look at something much more challenging and start teaching them about profit and loss. Get them saving and understanding the importance of money.
4. Remove the fear of failure
Over 3 in 4 startup businesses fail. If we don’t want this to deter future black entrepreneurs, we need to remove the fear of failure. Entrepreneurial children should be praised for their attempts and encourage to believe that setbacks are only temporary. Most children and teenagers love having money. The motivation is already there in most cases so removing the obstacle of fear should be done at an early stage.
Support any small business projects your child may bring to your attention. Don’t see it as wasted money, rather a reasonably priced lesson. By starting your child’s business idea, you will be teaching you child patience, drive, and responsibility. Be prepared to offer comforting words if his or her expectations are not met. Putting all this effort into a project only to have it fail can be crushing for a young child but you will have taught them an invaluable lesson that it is okay to fail. In time, you can look back at what was learnt from the experience.
5. Help your child get started
A great parenting tip for empowering kid entrepreneurs is to help them get started off on the right track. Help them do research about similar products or ideas. Is their pricing, right? Is there a current need for their idea or business?
Invest time and money in their ideas
If your kid wants to become an entrepreneur, it’s your job as a parent to help them make it a reality. This means helping them learn how to market their service or idea. This may also involve learning how to manufacture a product and taking online learning classes about their interests.
6. Look for opportunities
If your child wants to launch a product or service, they’re going to need to be in the public eye. This can be done through social media, word of mouth, and even getting contacting us for a mention.
Taking your children to such things as trade shows can also give them the opportunity to understand how networking works. There are also various online learning classes that can help parents and children discover how best to market a new product and make connections. We will be launching mastermind groups on BLOWN soon including ones for young children and teens.
“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” – Marcus Garvey
7. Get the family involved
By getting the family involved, you can strengthen bonds whilst gaining valuable input. Some siblings may want to work together, some may not but the benefits of teamwork outweigh going alone. Creativity thrives when people work together on a team. Brainstorming ideas as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of working solo.
Family projects encourage everybody to feel proud of their contributions. Tackling obstacles and creating a product together will bring the family closer. Working toward achieving mutual goals will teach your child great leadership skills.
8. Make it fun
Whatever you do, you need to make the exercises and experience fun. The best way to do it that is by removing rules and taking the back seat. Offer guidance but do not lead. By doing this, your child will believe this is their project and they have control.
Which one of these tips do you feel is the most important to teach the next generation of young black entrepreneurs? Let us know your thoughts below!
The United Kingdom is home to many different types of businesses, including a growing number of black owned businesses. But how many are there, and where are they located? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the rise of black owned businesses in the UK and explore their impact on the economy.
The Rise of Black Owned Businesses in the UK
Black owned businesses have been on the rise in recent years in the UK. According to research by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), there were nearly 400,000 black owned businesses as of 2019. This figure has increased by more than 50% since 2010—an impressive rate of growth compared to other business demographics.
These figures are encouraging, but it’s important to note that most black owned businesses are small operations with fewer than 10 employees. These small businesses play an important role in local communities, providing employment and creating goods and services for local people. They also contribute significantly to the UK economy as a whole; research from BEIS suggests that black owned businesses account for about 5% of all private sector turnover in Britain.
What’s Driving Growth of Black Owned Businesses in the UK?
So what’s driving this growth? One factor is increased access to finance options; government initiatives such as Start Up Loans have made it easier for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to get funding for their business ideas. Another factor is increased awareness among consumers; research shows that more people are now looking out for locally owned and operated business when making purchasing decisions.
Finally, there has been an increase in support programs specifically geared towards helping black entrepreneurs start up and grow their own business—such as Enterprise Nation’s #IAmTheFuture campaign which provides mentorship and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.
It’s clear that there has been a significant increase in the number of black-owned businesses in the UK over recent years—a trend which is likely to continue thanks to improved financial access, increasing consumer awareness, and dedicated support programs aimed at helping these entrepreneurs succeed. It’s inspiring to see so many individuals taking control of their financial destiny by starting their own business ventures—and having a positive impact on both local communities and the economy as a whole. Hopefully this trend continues into 2023 and beyond!
Economic Impact
Community Pride and Representation
Black-owned businesses also help build community pride by providing goods and services that cater specifically to people from similar backgrounds or offer products that reflect their culture and heritage. For example, a black owned restaurant might serve dishes inspired by traditional foods from the Caribbean or a hair salon might specialise in natural hairstyles popular among West Africans. These types of services give people from similar backgrounds an opportunity to connect with one another while also celebrating their culture and identity in meaningful ways.
Cultural Preservation
Social Empowerment
The best way to create social change is through grassroots action —and supporting black-owned businesses is a great way to get involved in this type of advocacy. By investing your money into local businesses owned by people of color, you are sending a powerful message that you believe in their potential and value them as an integral part of our society. This kind of social empowerment can create ripple effects throughout entire communities, inspiring others to follow suit and invest in these businesses as well.
Job Creation in the Black Community
When small businesses succeed, they create jobs in their local communities —which is especially important when those communities have traditionally been left out or underserved by larger corporations or institutions. Investing in black-owned businesses helps ensure that more job opportunities are made available within these communities, helping residents find meaningful employment and giving them the opportunity to build financial stability and security for themselves and their families over time.
The Value of Black-Owned Businesses in the Black Community
Every workplace should be a safe and inclusive environment, free of discrimination and prejudice. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Workplace racism is still an issue in the UK, and it has a significant effect on businesses. Let’s take a look at how workplace racism affects the UK economy and what employers can do to combat it.
The economic effects of workplace racism
Workplace racism can have far-reaching economic effects both for companies and for individuals. A study conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that workplace racism costs British businesses up to £24 billion each year, due largely to higher staff turnover rates, lower productivity, and under-utilization of talent. It also costs individuals—people who experience racial discrimination are more likely to suffer from stress or depression, leading to decreased job satisfaction and increased absences from work. This in turn leads to reduced productivity, which affects both businesses and employees alike.
What impact does racism have on black entrepreneurship
For many black entrepreneurs, this systemic racism has been a major driving force behind their decision to pursue entrepreneurship as an alternative to regular employment. Let’s take a look at how racism in the UK workplace is pushing black entrepreneurs to create their own opportunities.
In 2018, a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that more than three-quarters of black employees had experienced or witnessed racial discrimination in their workplaces. This statistic should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the history of institutionalized racism in Britain, however it does demonstrate the need for change.
These statistics certainly serve as motivation for many black entrepreneurs who feel that there are limited options for them within traditional employment structures. Not only are they more likely to experience racism, but they are also less likely to be hired or promoted due to unconscious bias and other forms of discrimination. As a result, many have turned to entrepreneurship as an alternative where they can be their own boss and create their own opportunities.
Being a black business owner can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it also presents unique challenges. The inequity and discrimination that exists in the business landscape can make success more difficult to achieve, especially if you’re competing against larger businesses owned by non-minority groups. But if you approach the situation strategically, you can make sure that your company stands out and thrives despite these struggles.
Here are some tips for how to stand out and thrive as a black business owner:
1. Find your niche
Identify what makes your products or services different from those of your competitors, and use that to market yourself better than they do. This could mean focusing on specific customer needs, offering specialized expertise or providing top quality customer service.
2. Network strategically
As a minority business owner, it is important to focus on building strong relationships with stakeholders who not only understand your plight but are also willing to back you up financially or act as mentors or advisors. Take time to attend industry events related to entrepreneurship or small business growth and leverage those connections for future success!
3. Leverage storytelling
Storytelling is vital for any business looking to stand out from the crowd, but it’s even more important for minority entrepreneurs hoping to cut through long standing stereotypes and misconceptions about their product or service. Make sure your story conveys why people should buy from you over other suppliers – emphasizing which values are embodied in each transaction will help establish a connection with customers who share similar beliefs and values.
4. Think outside the box
While traditional methods of marketing might work when trying to reach certain demographics, don’t be afraid to get creative! Try hosting seminars online, involving local influencers in campaigns or utilizing social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok – all these strategies can help draw attention towards your products/services and make ends meet while growing sustainably!
By following these tips, black entrepreneurs will be able to give themselves the best chance possible of succeeding in any industry regardless of their background! With hard work and dedication, success is achievable – so don’t be discouraged from pursuing what matters most!
In the UK, minority communities are underrepresented in the business world. According to research conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, only one percent of all businesses in the UK are owned by people from black and ethnic minorities – meaning that black-owned businesses are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to competing against larger enterprises and gaining access to resources they need.
Mentorship is an essential tool that can help empower these minority business owners and provide them with the guidance they need to succeed in their respective fields. Here are some of the benefits of mentorship for black-owned businesses:
Access to Insights – By having a mentor who has already been through the process of establishing a successful business, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insight into best practices and strategies as well as having someone to talk with and lean on during challenging times. Mentors can also provide advice on navigating difficult legal or financial challenges and offer constructive feedback on ideas being pursued before they’re put into action.
Supportive Networks – A good mentor will introduce you to other influential contacts within your industry, creating opportunities for collaboration, additional funding, or even job placements or internships in which you could benefit from their extensive knowledge base. Networking with peers brings unique challenges but mentors often provide invaluable advice on how to approach it effectively.
Improved Confidence – It’s not uncommon for owners of small business or startups to feel overwhelmed by fear or self-doubt; this type of anxiety becomes more pronounced when navigating an industry heavily dominated by white/male professionals which is why many feel like having someone offering support can be extremely reassuring during this period – giving reassurance that everything is progressing as expected and providing encouragement when needed!
Mentorship provides much needed guidance, resources, connections and confidence that aspiring entrepreneurs need when starting out – especially those belonging to minority groups who are often kept at a disadvantage due to historical discrimination. Finding a mentor who has gone through similar milestones can be incredibly beneficial in helping navigate any obstacles encountered along the way!
Marketing plays an essential role in helping businesses of all shapes and sizes gain visibility and attract customers. As a black-owned business in the UK, it’s important to understand and make use of effective marketing techniques that can help promote your services or products to the right target audiences.
1. Leverage Social Media Marketing
Creating social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great strategies to reach potential customers, build relationships with them over time, create engagement through content and also showcase your business as an active establishment which people can trust.
2. Utilize Networking Events
Attending networking events related to your industry is a great way to make connections with professionals who could potentially become valuable contacts for gaining extra exposure for the business. Additionally, Meeting new people who have insight into their respective fields can be incredibly helpful when it comes to formulating fresh ideas for future projects!
3. Employ Word-of-Mouth Techniques
It’s always beneficial to employ word of mouth tactics such as offering discounts or incentives for those who refer friends or family members; this serves as a great way to generate additional leads while simultaneously promoting awareness of your business among potential consumers – making sure that there’s no shortage of clients lining up at doorstep!
4. Focus on Content Marketing
Content often remains one of the most effective ways to connect with target audiences; whether it be writing blog posts about topics related to industry or creating podcasts/videos that offer unique perspectives – content marketing can be an incredibly powerful tool for creating an audience around the brand and establishing yourself as a leader in this space!
By utilizing these marketing strategies, black businesses in the UK can enjoy increased visibility, improved customer base and better presence within their respective industries – aiding them on their journey towards success!