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Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Black Wealth Builders


    Celebrate Black History Month with stories from Inspiring Entrepreneurs! Join us for a panel discussion celebrating Black entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers, building legacies and reshaping industries. From transforming retail and food to revolutionising beauty and broadcasting, this event offers real insight into building wealth through entrepreneurship.

    Hosted by *BBC 1Xtra's Richie Brave*, this engaging event will highlight real stories of purpose-driven leadership, innovation and wealth building. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your business, this session will leave you energised and equipped to build your own legacy.

    On the day expect to:

    • hear from social impact entrepreneurs changing how we support Black-owned businesses
    • discover how food, culture and heritage can be turned into a thriving business
    • learn how innovation and sustainability are transforming the beauty industry
    • gain insights into navigating funding, scaling, and authentic brand building
    • be inspired by stories of resilience, creativity and community connection.

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In conversation with Irene Agbontaen, founder of TTYA London

In this, the second of our two Inspiring Entrepreneurs interviews on Start-up Day, we meet and hear from Irene Agbontaen, founder of fashion brand TTYA London, in conversation with Anis Qizilbash.

Irene’s company TTYA - or Taller Than Your Average - is a fashion apparel brand for taller women, supplying a market that Irene - standing at 5’11’’ - knew was underserviced. TTYA launched in Selfridge’s in 2013, becoming their first tall-specific brand. TTYA has gone on to have a home in Barneys New York and was the first pioneering tall brand to debut on ASOS.com. Irene’s designs have been worn by major celebrities.

In this discussion Irene will be speaking about how she has navigated the industry and gone on to secure contracts with major stockists whilst keeping a very strong commitment to herself, her beliefs about inclusivity and to the essence of the business. There will also be lots of practical advice about how to truly be the face and voice of your brand, and how social media, e-commerce, endorsements and collaborations are all just as much a part of modern businesses as much as planning, accounting and sales.

Whether you are starting up in fashion, or another sector, you may find yourself being expected to change and conform to fit in with the establishment. Irene talks powerfully about her inner voice to resist this and how that, ultimately, has strengthened the business. For TTYA’s first catwalk show at Lagos Fashion Week in 2018 it was a team comprised solely of women of colour that went with her.

We all face a very challenging retail landscape in the light of the pandemic and changes in consumer spending. We’ll talk to Irene about how TTYA has faced this past year and what the future holds. Having played just a small role in TTYA’s story at the beginning, as Irene accessed stats on consumers from our market research databases to help progress her business, the BIPC is so happy to work with Irene again to inspire you as you begin your business now.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: The Business of Food – From Farm to Fork

The last few years have certainly been eventful for the food industry. From inflationary pressures to the enduring effects of the pandemic, many consumers have altered their food purchasing and dining out habits. However, despite these challenges ethical sourcing remains important: nearly four in five food and drink shoppers intentionally choose products with a sustainability claim (Mintel – Sustainability in Food report 2023).

Join us for an inspirational evening with Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, warmly known as The Black Farmer and Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca as they share their insights on the emerging trends in the food industry and the changing image of food on the high street.

Has the growth of new eateries in the UK serving recipes from all corners of the globe brought forth an evolution of British taste buds? Are food businesses raising the awareness of sustainability and how we can connect more with nature in our food choices? Hear about and discuss these hot topics, and more with the two well-known innovators as they also consider the part their own business journeys have played in revolutionising the face of the food industry in the UK.

This event is part of the British Library Food Season 2023

Santander's Starting up on a shoestring

Join Santander to find out how to get your business off the ground when money is limited.

Starting a business is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, and when faced with an endless to-do list, working out how to cover the cost of everything can feel overwhelming. But, by thinking differently about your start-up, you’ll discover there are lots of ways you can make your budget stretch further than you might think. From reaching your target market to managing cashflow, using digital tools to focusing your market research, there are ways to get your ideas off the ground on a shoestring.
In the session you'll be given some practical ideas to ensure you’re starting your business in as smart a way as possible. You’ll be guided by Andy Pendleton, one of Santander’s Business Banking Managers, who works with hundreds of businesses just like yours each year.

BIPC Glasgow's Resources for business start-ups

This special Start-up Day workshop, delivered as part of BIPC Glasgow's PowerUp project, will explain how to make best use of free online resources at BIPC Glasgow to support your business start-up, expanding business, or develop your own digital business skills. Delivered by Kavan Stafford, Information Officer at BIPC Glasgow.

The Remakery - Surplus materials, workspace and ecosystem


We hear from three businesses who have used The Remakery as a platform to grow. By providing a more affordable workspace with surplus materials, The Remakery lays the foundation for a more sustainable way of working, making and living that reduces our impact on the environment. Each of these businesses have used The Remakery to keep their materials in circulation, while also providing opportunities for their local community.

Michael Cashman

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