Meet the Black entrepreneurs shaping UK's future - Metro partners with BBI
The UK newsbrand with the most diverse audience will highlight the excellence of Black businessmen and women through a series of creative storytelling – starting with an interview with CEO and founder Darren Miller and a profile piece on Isabelle Pennington-Edmead, a fashion designer who started her own successful slow-fashion brand.
The series will continue with profiles on 11 more stand-out entrepreneurs who have fascinating stories to share about their journey from startup to entrepreneurial excellence.
Next, we will hear from personal trainer, Patrick Hutchinson, and gallery owner Aki Abiola.
Bookmark the link to the tag page to follow along each month.
For those unfamiliar with BBI, the organisation was founded in 2023 and at its heart is MBA30, an initiative that provides business training for Black entrepreneurs.
The goal is to help address the cultural and race-based barriers experienced by aspiring Black businesspeople and the disparity of wealth in the UK.
Between 2009-2019, just 0.24% of UK venture capital investment went to Black entrepreneurs, highlighting the systematic hurdles Black businesses face when securing financing.
What's more, statistics from the Runnymede Trust show that Black households have on average nine times less wealth than white households.
BBI CEO and founder Darren Miller, himself a successful entrepreneur, firmly believes executive education can help close this gap.
One of his biggest challenges when starting out with his first business was pitching for investment without having the specialist knowledge to prepare him for the sort of technical financial scouring that would have applied to his business models. As a result, he tells Metro, securing funding was hard and he was often turned down for businesses he deemed 'rock solid'.
'They could see things I couldn't, and it put me at a major disadvantage,' Darren explains.
Working with Metro, BBI now hopes to train up 3,000 entrepreneurs by 2030, playing a key role in unlocking the £75 billion economic growth opportunity that could come from a boost to Black-owned business. More Trending
Darren says: 'Black and ethnic entrepreneurs could add up to £75bn to the UK's GDP, that is a huge 'win-win' and our mission is to help realise that potential.'
He adds: 'The leadership and vision shown by the Metro is exemplary. Like BBI, they realise in order for the UK to be at its very best, every community must make a full contribution.
Metro Editor-in-Chief, Deborah Arthurs says: 'Partnering with BBI aligns with our mission to reflect the diversity of the UK, and indeed our readership, to champion entrepreneurial ambition that too often goes unsupported.
'Darren's story is a powerful reminder of how much potential exists when talent meets opportunity — and why visibility, investment and education are key to unlocking more talent and a more inclusive and prosperous economy.'
MORE: I didn't know the word entrepreneur growing up — now I help Black-owned businesses thrive
MORE: I built a fashion business from the ground up — you don't need entrepreneur family to succeed
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I'm a single mum on benefits — this is exactly what I spend my money on
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When I was younger I used to want to work with children with disabilities, helping them with sports and activities. But now I have a child with a disability myself, I want a break from caring for other people. Because I don't earn an income from work, I rely on benefits. I get Universal Credit of just over £1,000 a month and Clayton gets £740 through the Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This takes my total monthly income to £1,769, which typically pays the bills on my two-bedroom bungalow with not much to spare. Our rent of £432 a month is covered by the local authority and paid directly to the landlord. My energy bill is around £250 a month, water £70 and I spend around £150 to £200 a month on food. I eat a lot of convenience food because Clayton is nil by mouth so I tend to make it easy for myself, but I'm aware I could spend less by doing more food prep. Clayton has prescribed milk and water through his feeding tube. We find the money ok to manage on – it covers the bills and extras that Clayton wants or needs. He likes being outdoors, swimming and bubbles. We have a taxi provided by the council to take him to school and back, but otherwise transport costs can be high for me as I tend to take taxis after having a bad experience on a crowded bus when there wasn't enough space for Clayton's adapted pushchair. I'm currently having driving lessons so that I'll be able to drive us around. The lessons cost £345 for a block of 10 and I have a two-hour lesson every fortnight. If I need to make any large purchases, I have the option to borrow the money. I'm signed up to Creditspring, a regulated responsible lender that doesn't charge interest on its loans. I pay £10 a month to borrow up to £300 twice a year. I recently borrowed £250 to buy Clayton an adapted ball pit and I'm currently paying the loan back at £50 a month. Clayton loves sensory experiences so it's the best purchase I've got for him. 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a day ago
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I stayed in the Airbnb alternative trying to do things differently
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'This approach helps bring new life to city areas without impacting the availability of residential housing,' a spokesperson told Metro. They've recently acquired an office building in Paris, which will be transformed into 25 apartments, as well as an unused building in Burgos, a city in Northern Spain less popular with visitors than its famous neighbours. I headed to the Limehome in Ruzafa, Valencia's trendiest neighbourhood, to check it out. Limehome is a hotel-holiday apartment hybrid. There's no reception or concierge — it's all done via an app. You can check in online before your stay, much like you do for a flight. Then, on the day of arrival, you're sent the codes which you use to access the building. To some, this could feel impersonal, but it's quick, easy and faff-free. Opening the door to the light-filled apartment, it's clear to see that providing a clean, comfortable stay is the priority. The aesthetic is all clean lines and grey interiors, with a pop-of-red kitchen. There are a few extra touches to make the place feel cosier, such as houseplants and colourful art on the walls. If a hotel full of personality and local tips is what you're after, this isn't for you — if you'd told me I was the first person to stay here, I'd have believed you. There's no guest book or well-worn pamphlets like you might find in an Airbnb, and I didn't see a single other guest for the three days I was there. But the apartment was spotless, the kitchen stocked with everything you need (including an all-important bottle opener) and the Wi-Fi super fast. Someone visiting Valencia on business would be equally at home here as a group of friends on a city break. The apartment I stayed in had one bedroom, plus a sofa bed in the lounge/dining area. It was spacious, more than big enough for the maximum four people that could stay here. Beds were comfortable, and the bathroom was equipped with shower gel and shampoo, unusual for stays like this. As a self-catered apartment, you won't find any adds on: there's no spa or swimming pool, for example, but the standout feature has to be the cute balcony that looks out onto the street below. Small but compact, it was the perfect spot to rest my legs after a long day of sightseeing, sangria in hand, of course. A special shout-out also goes to the full-length mirror – this should be a must in every holiday accommodation, but it's not. Often, when staying in a self-service apartment, it's all about location. You're foregoing the luxury amenities of a hotel, in exchange for staying right in the action. That's certainly the case for Limehome Valencia, which is in the heart of Ruzafa, Valencia's hipster neighbourhood. 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Limehome Valencia has a lift, which offers access to all floors. However, not all Limehome apartments are the same, and it's important to check before booking. Standout feature: The right-in-the-heart-of-it location, and little balcony. Perfect for: Limehome Valencia would suit pretty much every type and group of guest, from families to business travellers. Not right for: Those looking for a stay with bags of character. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Europe's 'Paris of the East' is an underrated gem with £37 flights and 31°C August weather MORE: Family forced to hide in their cabin during £8,000 cruise from hell MORE: European seaside town takes aim at tourists with sassy poster and begs for 'decorum'
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a day ago
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What I Own: I sluethed on Rightmove to get a £36,000 discount on my Bristol home
Welcome back to What I Own – Metro's property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder. When Orima Kamalu, 36, and her husband first moved into their Bristol three-bed, they started on a high. The pair managed to secure their property for £629,000 – which was £36,000 less than the asking price. How did they do it? Simply by doing some detective work on Rightmove, and taking the risk. Now, they've just marked one year in their new home, which creative Orima has certainly put a colourful stamp on. Here's what Orima had to say about her property journey… You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. I'm a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, and my hobbies include DIY, arts and crafts, and watching far too much TV. My husband and I were studying, working and renting in London until 2019, when we moved back to Bristol, my hometown, to be closer to my mum. We have a three-year-old son and a seven-year-old cocker spaniel. Our property is in Westbury-On-Trym, just north of Bristol. It's known for being quite a traditional 'village' and less trendy than other parts of the city, but we love it. My favourite thing is how close we are to so many beautiful outdoor spaces, such as Blaise Estate, Baddocks Woods and The Downs. I'm also obsessed with FED, a delightful local café which recently opened a new branch. That said, the local high street has clearly suffered in recent years, with lots of long-standing independent stores closing. We hope that our community will continue to support the retailers we love. June 2024. Our property was listed for £665,000 and we purchased it for £629,000. Around £127,000. Our mortgage is £2,400 per month. Our bills come to approximately £1,200, including gas, electricity, water, broadband, and council tax. This is our second home, so we used the net proceeds from the sale of our first home as a deposit for this property. We bought our first property in 2021 for £395,000 with a 10% deposit, which came from savings gradually built over several years. We sold it for £463,000. Being NHS workers during COVID, we were lucky that we were still employed during this time, so we could continue saving. We also benefited from the stamp duty hiatus. Orima was keen to channel her creativity into her new house, with bold colour choices and chic furnishings. Now, the standout feature is the ceiling in her three-year-old's bedroom: hand-painted fluffy white clouds on a bright blue sky. The quirky choice got her son's seal of approval, and it even got her norminated for a Best Showstopping Home Feature in the Home Awards. Celebrating talent across 20 categories, including interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories, the awards highlight the best in the home renovations game. We were probably saving for our initial deposit since we both left university, but in earnest for about two years since moving to Bristol in 2019. The most complex part of securing a mortgage for uswas figuring out how to 'port' our existing mortgage debt from the first property to the second. A ported mortgage is what happens when you buy a new home and you want to take your existing mortgage rate with you. It's usually used when you have a deal that you want to keep, and while you'll still need to apply for a new mortgage, your current rate will still apply if you're successful in 'porting' it. If you want to borrow more than the value of your previous home, you can apply for additional borrowing. This will mean you'll end up with two elements to your mortgage, one part being the ported rate and the second being to cover the extra borrowing (usually on a different rate). Again, our broker oversaw the whole process with ease and clarity, so we were very fortunate that this went smoothly. We have a two-part mortgage with HSBC. Part 1: (ported mortgage) 3.29% fixed until 2027, 30-year term. Part 2: (new/additional mortgage) 4.38% fixed until 2029, 30-year term. We crunched some numbers with our mortgage advisor to determine what we could actually afford, and this kicked off our house search. I saw this property come on the market in September 2023 and immediately fell in love with it, even though it was quite out of our budget. I loved the location, the size and the potential to be refurbished without much need for anything structural. I did a bit of research on the property itself and found the buying history on Rightmove, which showed what the current owners had bought it for, versus the price it was actually listed for at the time. They offered below asking, so we took a chance and did the same. It was actually the same amount below asking that the current owners had bought for, which I think was part of the reason they didn't dismiss it. We were also the only potential buyers, which helped. We were so lucky it was accepted. Before we moved in, I had used a home visualiser app, which virtually redecorates the entire house, so I had a clear vision of how I wanted it to look in time. I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram home accounts. I'm drawn to homes which combine traditional features (like panelling and coving) with bold but earthy colours, prints and statement pieces like funky lighting. Sort of like a 'muted maximalism'. My favourite room is probably the kitchen, as even though I detest cooking, it's the transformation I'm most proud of. The kitchen was very different before, with white gloss units, turquoise walls, and a black floor and counter. It took quite a bit of figuring out and learning new skills but now I love the Victorian dresser and the drinks cabinet we sourced from Facebook marketplace, and I'm proud of our DIY tiling. We were keen to ensure that anywhere we bought had a reasonably-sized garden (a must with a dog), off-street parking and a downstairs toilet. In future, I'll be adding the following to the list: utility room and a garage (we lost one in the move, and it's such a wrench storage-wise). Yes and no. We do have more than enough space however, we've just started making enquiries about expanding the property with a small extension at the back, which we would use as an office and gym space. It would free up an extra bedroom in case we have a second child. The DIY renovations are endless and constantly ongoing. We had solar panels installed recently, which has been a really great addition in terms of bills and sustainability in general. We will likely do some landscaping of the front of the property and the rear garden to make them more enjoyable outdoor spaces. Fortunately (touch wood) nothing major so far. The odd thing is plumbing and heating, but we've been lucky not to need any big issues addressed. We count ourselves as extremely privileged to have been able to take this step, and I think fellow homeowners would do well to remember that. More Trending It's also been a big exercise in patience, as for a quite straightforward purchases, it took a surprisingly long time to get to completion. We think we'll probably stay here for at least 10 years or so, as the location suits our little family very well. View More » In the longer term, I think our desire for more space and privacy may take us further out of Bristol, but we shall see. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: London's 'quaint' borough is the cheapest to rent at £1,485 — but it might not be for long MORE: 'Fantastic' market town named the UK's cheapest for first-time buyers MORE: My husband paid our entire £45,250 house deposit — it makes me so uncomfortable
