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Race Equality Enterprise Help Working Group appoints new management

Race Equality Business Support Working Group appoints new leadership

11/10/2021

The Liverpool City Region Local Business Partnership (LEP) and the Combined Authority have announced the appointment of Gloria Hyatt MBE as the new Chair of the Working Group in Support of Racial Equality, with Ben Osu as Vice Chair.

Gloria Hyatt, MBE, has been a serial entrepreneur since 2005 and director of Teach Consultancy, who previously founded and ran an academy on a preeminent HMI in the heart of Liverpool’s multi-ethnic community, Toxteth.

As an ambassador for racial equality, she works with entrepreneurs, corporations and SMEs, providing transformative business support, education, training, corporate and executive coaching to influence systemic and cultural change.

As part of the Anthony Walker Foundation, Ben Osu leads the fight against racial injustice and the promotion of racial equality among young people in schools across the region, as well as working with employers to help them develop diverse, inclusive and equitable jobs that actively racism combat and discrimination.

The working group was established to better understand the barriers to access by residents of Black, Asian and ethnic minorities to business support services and to significantly improve this access and ensure that all residents are fully supported to realize their potential in establishing and Exploiting the management of a company, as well as supporting the entire corporate landscape in order to improve company performance through diversity.

The group was founded to support the Race Equality Program for the Liverpool City area, launched last year by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.

Gloria was also invited to join the LEP board.

Asif Hamid MBE, Chairman of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), welcomed the appointments of Gloria and Ben, saying:

“The establishment of this working group is at the heart of our work as an LEP and is extremely important to me not only as chairman, but also as an entrepreneur himself.

“This working group aims to understand the challenges and obstacles and make sure we get to the heart of them. We can then work together to develop meaningful actions and plans to remove barriers for Black, Asian, and ethnic minority-run businesses at all points in the business lifecycle as they begin to stabilize and grow. Glorias and Ben’s in-depth expertise and knowledge of equality will be of tremendous benefit to the group. I am also excited to welcome Gloria to the LEP Executive Board who will be a great addition. “

Asif added: “I would like to express my sincere thanks not just to Gloria and Ben, but to the entire Board of Directors for taking the time to advance this important topic.”

Gloria Hyatt

Gloria Hyatt MBE, Founder and Director of Teach Consultancy and Chair of the Race Equality Business Support Group, said:

“It is a great honor to be named chairman of the Race Equality Business Support Group at a crucial time in the metropolitan area’s efforts to improve our game and put race equality at the heart of our business planning, execution and strategy.

“I hope to inspire all ethnic communities to share a common desire to work and learn openly together to understand the barriers and help businesses encounter Black, Chinese, Asian and ethnic minorities.

“This is a unique opportunity for business support providers and ethnic minorities to build bridges, shape and shape solutions, embed inclusive business practices, generate significant economic and social value, and achieve an exemplary model suitable for national and international competition.

“I look forward to working with Ben and Lorna and the other board members and, via Asif, also on the LEP board, in order to realize these aspirations and to proactively change and increase the inclusion and diversity in our business environment in our region.”

Lorna Rogers, Assistant Director – Mayoral Program Delivery for the Combined Authority said:

“I am thrilled to hear the exciting news that Gloria and Ben have been appointed as Chair and Vice Chairs of the Race Equality Business Support Group. Developing our business infrastructure to meet the needs of racially diverse communities across the metropolitan area is a key element of our overall racial equality program.

“The expertise that Gloria and Ben will bring to these roles will enable us to support the creation and growth of minority businesses and the development of ethnic minority business leaders. This will bring enormous economic and social benefits to both the ethnic minority communities and the wider urban region. I am very much looking forward to working closely with you so that we can meet our commitments to diversify the business landscape in our region. “

Ben Osu, vice chairman of the Business Support Group on Racial Equality, said:

“Now is the time to really stand up and take action against racism and the fight against discrimination. I am ready to take on the challenge and work with colleagues to help companies across the region take action against racism, challenge all forms of discrimination and support their colleagues when they need it. It’s great to see the commitment of the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority being put into practice. We are stronger when we unite and celebrate our differences. “

Another 10 new board members with different backgrounds have been recruited for the working group and have a wealth of experience, talent and know-how to support this important agenda.

The leadership of this working group was taken over by the Growth Platform, the growth company of the urban region, on behalf of the LEP and the combined authority of the Liverpool urban region.

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