Black Talent Charter strives for equality of opportunity for Black talent
Our goal is to ensure the % of black professionals matches UK working population within 10 years, with representation at every level, whilst supporting people to be their authentic self. We offer practical tools to support businesses and give confidence to top leadership. We constructively challenge and change mindsets in the corporate world, whilst supporting and nurturing Black talent to access high earning career opportunities.
"We are focused on a core goal of equitable Black talent representation at all levels in British business within 10 years. Often, whilst there is a desire for change, individual action fails to counter the systemic issues. We offer a cross-sector, cross-organisation collaborative approach, developing evidence-based ideas to drive change."
Laura Durrant
Chief Executive Officer
Founding Story with Harry Matovu KC
When I started my career in 1989, I was the only Black barrister at the Commercial Bar. It has been a long and frequently lonely road, as other Black professionals know, and it defies common sense that I should for so long have been the only Black lawyer capable of practising in this area of the Bar. This is the result of a widespread and deep-rooted misperception of Black talent in business and the professions, and I founded the Black Talent Charter with Michael Eboda in 2019 to highlight and address this with new approaches and new ways of thinking. The word is spreading and we now work with leading companies, firms and institutions across financial and professional services. As for my own profession, I hope that the various sets at the Bar will also want to work closely with us all.
I am hugely proud of the small, brilliant team we have assembled at BTC, and of the partnerships we are forging, and the coalitions we are building, to tackle the age-old inequities faced by Black professionals. This is a not an easy agenda, and if I ever flag, I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary and resilient Black talent that I meet at all levels of seniority, and by the famous words of Margaret Mead:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
I am so grateful for your support.
The Charter
As a Signatory of the Charter, businesses pledge to promote Black talent by:
Committing to work in good faith to enhance Black representation and inclusion
Creating and maintaining an environment where Black talent can be identified, developed and promoted
Developing an action plan with details specific to improving Black inclusion, recruitment and career progression, and setting ambitious internal targets for Black representation
Co-founder of the Black Talent Charter, CEO of Powerful Media and creator of the Powerlist
Syreeta Brown
Group Chief People & Communications Officer at Virgin Money UK PLC and member of the Executive Leadership Team
Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE
Chancellor of Coventry University, Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe, Board of the Co-op
Vincent Egunlae
Manager, Corporate Finance at Grant Thornton UK LLP; co-founder of Grant Thornton’s Ethnicity Network; co-founder of The Open Private School charity
David Ziyambi
Partner in Latham & Watkins, finance lawyer and leading partner in the firm’s Africa Practice; director of International Lawyers for Africa; founder of his firm’s Black Lawyers Group
Contact us
If you are interested in your organisation becoming a Signatory, please contact us using the form below.
