The UK’s biggest dedicated trade show for black business owners is expected to grow to 2,000 visitors at London’s QEII Centre.
Founded by Raphael Sofoluke, the UK Black Business Show launched in 2017 with the aim of highlighting the achievements and contributions black businesses have made to the economy and connecting business owners and entrepreneurs across a wide variety of sectors.
Founder Raphael Sofoluke said: “The UK Black Business Show is about creating a really positive environment to support black entrepreneurs, particularly in some of the sectors where the black community is under-represented, like technology. Since launching three years ago we’ve seen great outcomes from the event, including visitors who’ve been inspired by what they’ve seen to set up their own business, and one company that launched their business at our first event and has gone on to do their own television show on Channel 4."
Westminster venue the QEII Centre was chosen to host the inaugural show for its location, accessibility and how it would be able to convey the brand of the event. From its first year in a 70-capacity suite, to this year selling out the exhibition space of QEII’s 1,300-capacity third floor, the UK Black Business Show has grown exponentially and is expecting to welcome 2,000 visitors to see 103 exhibitors at the event on Saturday 5 October.
Sofoluke adds:“I’d been involved with an event held at the QEII Centre in my previous role so I knew it was where I wanted the UK Black Business Show to be, as it’s so easy to get to and there are great opportunities for branding through the building’s digital signage and even with the flags outside, which is really important for getting people excited about the event. The QEII team have been a great support; our account manager Chris Gaylard has helped us achieve our vision and dealt with any glitches, and Daniel Anderson has done a brilliant job as our event manager on the day.
“Our 2019 event is going to be bigger and better than ever; as well as UK businesses we will be welcoming exhibitors from the US, Germany, France and Nigeria, and we have an unmissable line-up of speakers ready to inspire all our attendees.”
Chris Gaylard, QEII’s account manager for the UK Black Business Show, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Raphael and his team to support the UK Black Business Show and to see how rapidly the event has grown. From using one of our smallest exhibition spaces in their first year to now selling out our biggest single-floor space, it shows that there was a real gap in the market for this event and the whole QEII team is proud to be a part of its success.”
The Black Business Show takes place at the QEII Centre on Saturday 5 October.
