Last month, a new networking group was launched by local business people with the aim to be fully inclusive while ensuring BAME businesses are represented.
The Milton Keynes BAME Business Network, or the MKBBN, was created after its founder, Ranjit Singh, noticed that there weren't very many BAME representatives within the local business community.
Ranjit, who works at the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, used his links with the business sector to put together a board of eight people ranging from entrepreneurs to business coaches.
And after countless meetings and planning sessions, the team last month decided to launch their very first networking event via Zoom which saw ninety people log on - meaning the first event reached maximum capacity.
"It shows the need for it," said Sanjeet Chandi, Founder of Treat Street, who is part of the MKBBN board. The board hopes that post covid, the monthly networking events will be hosted at various BAME businesses across the city - including at Treat Street's Liquor and Shake cocktail bar.
But in the meantime, monthly sessions on various topics will be held via Zoom.
Ranjit said: "We are trying to connect with the wider business network, and we're trying to integrate into the mainstream. And this is a platform to enable BAME businesses and professionals to do that.
"It doesn't matter if you're not BAME. We want to include as many people so that those BAME businesses can connect with you, and you can connect with them because there are lots of mainstream companies that haven't got connections with BAME businesses that are desperate to connect with them aswell."
The board hopes that MKBBN will grow organically, and will be "led by the network".
Ranjit commented: "There's a broad range of businesses that you'll get to network with. That could be other micro-businesses that you can support and help, or it's a pathway to meeting a large corporate that could perhaps buy some of your services as well.
Sanjeet agreed, adding: "Not everyone is a business owner. Some people are in high positions, so it could be an opportunity to potentially get a new job or introduce yourself to a hiring manager, or open doors and opportunities."
This month's networking event on Online Business Growth will take place on Wednesday 25th November. It is a free ticketed event, and people must pre-register. Find out more here.
Despite the positive reaction from businesses so far, Ranjit told us the group's overall objective: "We hope that one day we don't exist, because there's no need for it. That's the long term aim. But at the moment there is a real need for it, and we will continue to do this work for as long as it's needed."
You can keep up to date with MKBBN by following the group on Facebook and Instagram - @MiltonKeynesBBN.
© MKFM News 2020
