Black boys in Business 2008

Black Boys in Business was one of the most successful events in Global Entrepreneurship Week UK with twelve high-profile entrepreneurs showcasing their talents and inspiring a crowd of over 300. The popularity of the event was due in part to the support and promotion from MYM who provided high-profile speakers such as Levi Roots, Dragon’s Den entrepreneur and founder of Reggae Reggae sauce and Ansell Henry, from the Apprentice.

Speakers Nathan John (founder of Youth Enlightenment Limited) and Ronald Cummings-John (founder of Instant Gratification) struck up a conversation after meeting for the first time at the event. Inspired by each other’s enthusiasm they started bouncing around business ideas until the early hours, by which time they had come up with something they both felt passionate about. They put their ideas into action, and Common Touch Gateway (CTG) was born.

CTG provides a secure online platform which aims to connect employees as mentors with social enterprises, students and small or medium sized enterprises. Despite only launching in March 2009, Nathan John states that ‘CTG has generated interest from Barclays Capital, BP, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, IoD, Standard Bank and TiE’.

Since the event Nathan John has become and Ronald Cummings-John is soon to become a MYM Ambassador. Nathan talks about their experience, 'Attending the Black Boys in Business event during Enterprise Week was great. We inspired other people, and for us, it was a great networking opportunity. Without it, CTG would never have got off the ground.'

As well as the speakers, the event also had an effect on other guests. Patricia McLeod talks about the effect on her son, 'this event had a very profound effect on my son who has now decided that he would like to pursue his entrepreneurial skills.  My son and his elder brother set up a company at school called the Sugar Shack.  They sold sweets and cakes to the other students and teachers at the school.'