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Susan Nightingale, Director of British Business Bank Praises EMEEN For Its Pioneering Work

Susan Nightingale, Director Of British Business Bank - Special Guest

24th August marked an inspirational event and policy milestone with the launch of the inaugural Ethnic Minority & Migrant Entrepreneurship Northern Ireland Position Paper by the Ethnic Minority Employment & Entrepreneurship Network (EMEEN) in collaboration with Ulster University Business School.


In her remarks, Susan Nightingale of British Business Bank and Inclusive Entrepreneurship NI praised EMEEN as a "fantastic organisation" that provides invaluable support and advocacy for ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland. She commended EMEEN Founder Steve Lazars and his team as a driving force for much-needed policy change in this area.


Nightingale also recognized the vital contributions of Dr. Laura Bradley and Steve Pollard in producing such a thought-provoking report that analyzes the landscape for ethnic minority entrepreneurship locally. Their efforts earned richly deserved awards presented at the event.

Susan Nightingale Presented With Flowers By EMEEN Founder & Director Steve Lazars

The highlight of the event was the Inspirational Entrepreneur Awards, which Nightingale called a privilege to present. The award-winning businesses showcased truly innovative and resilient minority entrepreneurs with boundless determination and aspiration.


Nightingale emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between organisations like EMEEN, British Business Bank, and Inclusive Entrepreneurship NI to continue fostering an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northern Ireland. With equal opportunity and access to resources for all businesses, the potential for minority entrepreneurs to start and scale ventures is immense.


EMEEN NATIONAL AWARDS 2023


Inspirational Entrepreneur Award

EMEEN NATIONAL AWARD 2023 for "Inspirational Entrepreneur Award" category was presented to multi-award winning entrepreneurs

Susan congratulated all those involved in the groundbreaking report and event, calling it an inspirational day celebrating the promise of ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship. The future is bright when visionary leaders and engaged stakeholders come together to uplift diverse entrepreneurial talent.


On behalf of the entire team at EMEEN, We want to sincerely thank Susan Nightingale for serving as the chief guest for the launch of our groundbreaking report on ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland. We were honored to have Susan lend her expertise and perspective to this milestone event for our organisation. Her engagement and inspirational words emphasise the immense potential of diverse entrepreneurship to transform local communities. We look forward to building on this special moment to drive meaningful impact together with British Business Bank.



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