London Celebrates African Caribbean business success

On Thursday10th March the African Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) will honour the trailblazers and captains of industry from the London African Caribbean community in the second annual LACE conference and awards (London African Caribbean Entrepreneur). Supported by the LDA, the event will celebrate the business achievement of 12 African Caribbean businesses as well as a public and private sector company who have been instrumental in assisting African Caribbean businesses to gain mainstream contacts.

Civil Rights Leader, Rev Jesse Jackson will be the key note speaker at this year’s awards. He will be sharing his experience, knowledge and successes from the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street campaign, which celebrates and encourages mainstream organisations to work with minority owned businesses in the USA. He will also launch the LDA, and GLA's Diversity Works campaign during the daytime conference.

The African Caribbean network is the voice of African and Caribbean business in London and the LACE conference and awards are an important part of its vision to take African Caribbean business growth and development to the next level of success.

On behalf of Mayor Ken Livingston ACBN Chair Yvonne Thompson CBE continues to champion the African Caribbean business cause and believes that ‘the LACE awards are an important platform to show case the strength and diversity of African Caribbean Business success in the capital.


ENDS




NOTE TO EDITORS:

ACBN Annual Dinner & Business Awards Thursday 10th March 2005
Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London W.1 6.30pm reception - 7.30pm dinner.
Keynote Speaker Rev. Jesse Jackson of the PUSH Coalition – USA

This event is an excellent opportunity for ambitious London based companies to generate exposure for their business. Eligible nominees must be at least 51% African/Caribbean owned, operating in London. The organisation must be independently owned and operated (includes joint owners) and must also demonstrate achievement in business.

Tickets are on sale at £85. To book tickets for the event Tel: 020 7978 9488 Email at: Yemisi@asapcomms.co.uk or admin.acbn@londonchamber.co.uk

The 15 LACE awards categories are:
o London Best Business Awards: East, West, North, South, Central;
o Enterprise: Supplier of the Year, International Trade, Young
Entrepreneur, Start Up, Innovation, Creative & Cultural
o Overall: Excellence
o Mainstream: Public Sector and Private Sector - Contractor of the
Year and Best Business Support Agency.

Nominations close on 14th February.

Established since 2001, the African Caribbean Business Network is the network of business networks, specifically working with the African and Caribbean Business Community in London. Dedicated to supporting and lobbying on behalf of African and Caribbean Businesses it is supported by the Mayor, London Chamber of Commerce and various key strategic partners.

The ACBN has worked to establish itself as the credible pan-London body; acting as a voice of African Caribbean Businesses, at the heart of London government and facilitating a two-way flow of knowledge and information between the African Caribbean business community and mainstream businesses and organisations. At the same time, we align challenges with opportunities to make London the very best place to start and grow a business for all communities.