UK Black Comms Network

📢 Our Report is Now Live! 📢 You may have read a few of the headlines - our One Step Forward, Two Steps Black report is now available to download from our website. 🔗 Link: https://lnkd.in/d9yAgcu 🔍 Key Takeaways: Diary of a Black PR Pro •⁠ ⁠As of 2024, two-thirds (67%) of Black and Mixed-Black communications professionals surveyed reported that, as new hires, they felt the need to tone down their personalities to fit into the workplace environment. Workplace Culture •⁠ ⁠Work remains a hostile place for Black people in PR and Comms Promotion and progression feel like a pipe dream for Black comms pros •⁠ ⁠Four in five (82%) Black and mixed-race communications professionals continue to experience indirect racial discrimination at work. •⁠ ⁠65% ignore microaggressions and racist comments •⁠ ⁠Over two-thirds (68%) have considered leaving the PR industry Progression, Promotion & Pay •⁠ ⁠Almost half (46%) of Black and mixed PR professionals report they have never received a promotion in their previous position. •⁠ ⁠Only three in ten (29%) feel that they will likely become the most senior communications professional in their company •⁠ ⁠Black talent  are more likely to receive a pay rise (14%) than they are to receive a promotion (6%) which is the gateway to senior positions •⁠ ⁠More than two thirds (68%) plan to leave the industry Industry Awards •⁠ ⁠(78%) of Black and mixed PR professionals agree that industry awards lack diversity •⁠ ⁠Meaningful industry initiatives, recognition and tailored support make a difference •⁠ ⁠77% industry initiatives eg: BCN •⁠ ⁠76% diversity across board members •⁠ ⁠69% invitations to senior level events 68% mentoring/ coaching/ sponsorship Recognition, Training & Support •⁠ ⁠Meaningful industry initiatives, recognition and tailored support make a difference •⁠ ⁠ 77% industry initiatives eg: BCN •⁠ ⁠76% diversity across board members  •⁠ ⁠69% invitations to senior level events •⁠ ⁠68% mentoring/ coaching/ sponsorship We'd love to know your thoughts - let us know in the comments 👇🏾

It’s a rotten old job market at the moment. And with news of more layoffs, we want to help. We've heard in our networks of lots of talented individuals who are overwhelmed with the arduous task of job searching and the amount of time it takes.  So we’re going to show you how you can cut down your time significantly and show you how to create cover letters, revamp your CV, prepare interview questions, put together an action plan to increase your chances and how to explore other avenues to create a portfolio career or additional revenue streams using AI. Our founder Effie Kanyua is running two free virtual training courses for 30 people for each slot, on a first come first served basis on:   Tues 10th December at 12pm GMT (30 mins) Friday 13th December at 12pm GMT (30 mins) If there are people outside of Europe in the US and other time zones interested, we will add another later slot. The Tuesday session is half full already so please do get in touch to book your slot. Also please do feel free to share this with anyone in your network who is currently searching for work and who might find this helpful. And to register please email support@lilaassistant.com stating your preference of day or if you require a later slot. If you want to check out LILA beforehand go to www.lilaassistant.com #jobsearch #jobopportunities #career

I walked into the PRCA Awards excited to celebrate and cheer on everyone doing incredible work in the industry, and ended up leaving with the 2024 Industry Trailblazer Award 😅 To say I'm shocked and humbled would be an absolute understatement, but feeling so very grateful for this honour. I've spent most of my career fighting to be heard and seen, and to ensure that others that look like me are heard and seen as well - receiving this award feels like a powerful validation not just of my own journey, but of the importance of amplifying diverse voices and creating more inclusive spaces in our industry. This award is a reminder that when we persist in advocating for change, our efforts can create meaningful impact and inspire others to join the mission of making our industry more representative and equitable. Excited to continue doing this work and for all that the future has in store <3 Thanks to PRCA for this incredible award, and Missive for believing in my vision and supporting me in actualising it. Also HUGE shoutout to Ishtar Schneider for making sure I didn't leave the awards ceremony 😅

🚨 Our research reveals a concerning trend: the NHS risks losing talented communications professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds. In September, we launched a survey seeking input from ethnic minority communicators, marketers and engagement specialists across the NHS, charity and commercial sectors. Over 320 ethnic minority communicators responded to the survey. Thank you to all those who took part. 🙏🏿 🔍 Key Insights from the Research: 🌟The institution of the NHS is a significant factor in attracting staff 🌟Despite 97% holding a degree or higher, over half lack confidence in career progression within the NHS. 🌟Twenty-six per cent (26%) of ethnic minority NHS communications professionals do not envisage remaining in their roles three years from now, citing poor relationships with management (37%), dissatisfaction with the institution (34%) and structural racism (32%) as key reasons. 🌟NHS Black comms professionals are much less likely to feel that they are treated fairly at work. 62% of Black professionals Do NOT agree that they are treated fairly at work compared to 41% of Asian professionals and 24% of mixed-heritage professionals. 🌟Older ethnic minority professionals in the NHS are markedly less satisfied than older professionals outside the NHS. 🗣️ We will now have discussions with senior NHS leaders and comms professionals to share the data and develop meaningful recommendations to enhance the experience of all communications professionals and improve diversity and inclusion. https://lnkd.in/e_PP88qr #NHSDiversity #InclusiveWorkplace #EthnicMinorityTalent #NHSCommunications #CareerProgression #StructuralChange

Our Founder Kamiqua Lake (nèe Pearce) talks all things unlocking potential and why building community is central to us 👇🏾

Great vibes and good chat - we expect nothing less at a UK Black Comms Network event 😊

Loving the perspective from one of our newest emerging talent members Rita Ugi 👇🏾

🏆 Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community Finalist! 🏆 Taking our award nominations as a win, even if we don’t take home the title. Pleased to have attended the awards on Monday and met such a variety of business owners. Always great to end the year reflecting on the positives and feeling inspired for the year ahead. A shout out to Nicholas Shepherd who continues to help us build Season25 with passion and new ideas every day (and who secretly nominated me in this category) #GBEA #GreatBritishEntrepreneurAwards #Finalist

The best brand collaboration of the decade, supported by insights from us at Word on the Curb! Oatly x THE LANDLORD - who would have thought it? What might seem like a random partnership, is in fact an authentic labour of love and human insights. Giggs has been talking about his love for cake and custard for years across socials and, as someone who is lactose intolerant, expressed how he struggles to find dairy free alternatives. So he DM'd Oatly who commissioned us to do research into lactose intolerance and its effect on audiences in the UK. Our research revealed: 🇬🇧 Approximately 7.5M people in the UK say they are lactose intolerant. 🙋🏾♂️Individuals of Black heritage in the UK are more than twice as likely as White groups to say they are lactose intolerant. 🙄 When asked how being lactose intolerant affects individuals, our Curb Community revealed that two thirds (67%) miss out on their favourite desserts, and access to dairy-free foods is a big barrier, with two thirds (68%) struggling to find alternatives in supermarkets, shops or restaurants. What started as a DM has not only ended up in one of the most disruptive brand collabs, but has unearthed a real audience need, topped off with a limited edition pop-up activation. Giggs has launched 500 dairy-free cake and custard kits, featuring custom tableware alongside Oatly Vanilla Custard. He will be dishing up the kits to fans today (Wednesday 20th November) from 1pm at Ayres Bakery, near his hometown of Peckham. Well done to all involved in this Oatly, Blurred, PRETTYBIRD!

“Only the other week, I spoke with a friend about how we’ve grown to redefine masculinity - letting go of stoicism and embracing emotional openness. We laughed about the fact that one of our most "manly" moments was offering support to each other during COVID lockdown. As Toni Morrison said, “If you wanna fly, you got to give up the things that weigh you down.” For us, shedding outdated notions of masculinity has been liberating.” Richard Etienne It's International Men's Day so we asked Warren Davis Khalid Agyemang Richard Etienne and Chair of our Black men in comms community Preston Onyechere for their thoughts and thy didn't hold back. Check out their musings here: https://lnkd.in/eGBrHZgs Is IMD relevant to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇