The new chair of Liverpool's Race Equality Business Support Working Group has vowed to place race equality at the heart of business planning as the region continues its recovery from the pandemic.
Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the city region Combined Authority have appointed Gloria Hyatt MBE as chair of the group, with Ben Osu as deputy chair.
The group, set up under Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's Race Equality Programme, aims to support black, Asian and minority ethnic business people as they start and grow their businesses. It will also look at the barriers people faced when they try to access business support services.
READ MORE: Plans revealed for 'once in a lifetime' regeneration
Gloria Hyatt is a serial entrepreneur and has been director of Teach Consultancy, since 2005. Before that, she became Liverpool's first black headteacher as she set up an 'outstanding' academy in Toxteth.
As a race equality ambassador, she works with entrepreneurs and businesses delivering transformational, business support, education, training, corporate and executive coaching.
Ms Hyatt has also been invited to join the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board.
She said: "It is a great honour to be appointed as Chair of the Race Equality Business Support Group at a pivotal time in the city region’s efforts, to raise our game and place race equality at the heart of business planning, delivery, and strategy.
Most Read
"I hope to inspire a collective endeavour, by all racial communities to openly work and learn together, to understand and contribute to overcoming the barriers Black, Chinese, Asian, and racial minority businesses encounter.
"This is a unique opportunity for business support providers and minority racial communities to build bridges, co-create and co-design solutions, embed inclusive business practice, generate significant economic and social value, and achieve an exemplar, fit for a national and international stage.
"I am looking forward to working collaboratively, with Ben and Lorna and the other members on the board and also on the LEP Board through (its chair) Asif Hamid, to realise these aspirations and proactively, transform and increase inclusion and diversity in our regions business environment."
Ben Osu is part of the Anthony Walker Foundation, working to tackle racial injustice and promote racial equity to young people in schools across the region. He also works with employers to help them develop diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Sign up to our #IAMBOB newsletter
We're celebrating the success of the 海角视频's black-owned businesses - and we want to tell you all about them in our #IAMBOB newsletter!
Once a month, we share news, features and comment from companies led by black business leaders - from start-ups and SMEs to blue-chip corporations and household names.
You can sign up here
Mr Osu said: "Now is the time to truly stand up and take action when it comes to anti-racism and challenging discrimination.
"I am ready to take on the challenge and work with colleagues to support businesses across the region to become actively anti-racist, challenge all forms of discrimination and support their colleagues when they need it.
Don’t miss
"It is great to see the commitment from the LEP and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority turn into action. We are stronger when we unite and celebrate our differences.”
Asif Hamid MBE, chair of the LEP, said: "Establishing this working group is at the heart of what we do as a LEP and is extremely important to me not only as Chair but as a business owner myself.
“This group aims understand and ensure we are getting to the heart of the challenges and barriers faced. We can then work together to develop meaningful actions and plans to remove barriers for Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic led businesses at all points in the business lifecycle as they look to start, stabilise and grow.
"Gloria and Ben’s depth of expertise and knowledge in equality will be a tremendous asset to the group. I am also pleased to welcome Gloria to the main LEP board who will be a great addition.
"I would like to send out my heartfelt thanks to not only Gloria and Ben but to the whole Board for giving their time to take forward this important issue.”
Lorna Rogers, assistant director – Mayoral programme delivery for the combined authority, said: "Developing our business infrastructure to enable it to meet the needs of racially diverse communities across the city region is a key element of our overall race equality programme.
"The expertise that Gloria and Ben will bring to these roles will enable us to support the establishment and growth of minority businesses and the development of minority ethnic business leaders. This will bring huge economic and social benefits to both minority ethnic communities and the wider city region.
"I am really looking forward to working closely with them in order for us to achieve our commitments to diversify our region’s business landscape.”