Every October, Black History Month reminds us of how far our community has come. For Black business owners in Birmingham, there is a practical way to turn that celebration into customers, contacts and capital: UK Black Business Week and the UK Black Business Show, taking place at ExCeL London from 12 to 17 October 2026. With the main show on Saturday 17 October, there are just two weeks to plan your visit, and some of the sessions are free.
This guide explains what is on, what it costs, and how to make a trip from Birmingham pay for itself. We have kept the focus on what matters to Black-owned businesses in the West Midlands, because the funding and networking gaps we face are exactly what a gathering like this is designed to help close. Ticket details are taken from the organisers’ booking pages and may change, so check before you buy.
Why a Black-Led Business Event Matters Right Now
Black entrepreneurs in Britain are not short of ambition. They are short of access. The British Business Bank’s 2026 Small Business Finance Markets report does not publish separate figures for Black-led firms, but its findings for ethnic minority-led businesses as a group are clear:
- 71% of ethnic minority-led businesses have a long-term ambition to grow, compared with 40% of white-led businesses.
- 51% expect difficulties in obtaining finance.
- 22% see access to external finance as a major obstacle, more than twice the share of white-led businesses.
The picture is starker in venture capital. The Startup Coalition’s December 2025 report, as cited by the UK Business Angels Association, found that Black founders received just 1.6% of UK venture capital rounds over the past decade, and Black women just 0.14%. The same research found that founders from ethnically diverse backgrounds are 10% less likely to have a contact they could ask for introductions.
That last point is the heart of it. Capital follows relationships, and relationships follow rooms. When the usual rooms are not built with us in mind, we need rooms of our own. That is what this week offers.
What Is Happening at UK Black Business Week 2026
UK Black Business Week was founded by Dr Raphael Sofoluke and runs from 12 to 17 October at ExCeL London. According to the organisers, it includes 21 events across streams such as finance, technology, legal, leadership, media and culture, property and Black-owned business. Highlights listed on the programme include:
- 12 October: the Opening Networking Party, 7pm to 11pm.
- 13 October: the Black Women and Black Men Business Talks.
- 14 October: the Black STEM Careers Fair and the Black Tech Experience and legal sessions.
- 17 October: the UK Black Business Show, the flagship day.
The UK Black Business Show on Saturday 17 October
The Show runs from 9am to 6pm. The organisers say it attracts more than 8,000 visitors, with over 200 speakers, 200-plus exhibitors and multiple conference streams. Confirmed keynote speakers include Emma Grede, co-founder of Good American and SKIMS, Lord Michael Hastings and Ange Matthews. The listing also promises:
- Main stage sessions and seminars on business growth, marketing, branding and funding.
- Expert clinics offering personalised guidance on funding, exporting, marketing and strategy.
- A networking lounge.
- A shopping experience with Black-owned exhibitors.
- Career advice and employer connections.
Sponsors listed include HSBC as headline sponsor, JP Morgan and BP, which matters if you are hoping to meet people from corporate supply chains and lending teams.
What It Costs: Choosing the Right Ticket
Prices on the organisers’ booking page vary by pass, and a £2 booking fee applies. Tickets are listed as non-refundable on the organiser’s site, although the Eventbrite listing for the Show mentions refunds up to seven days before, so read the terms for the exact ticket you choose.
- Show day pass (17 October): £45 to £65 depending on when you buy. A Gold Pass at £70 to £80 adds a lounge and the afterparty.
- Individual sessions: most specialist talks are listed at £35 early bird or £45 onsite.
- Week passes: Standard from £150 early bird (£240 onsite) and Premium from £250 early bird (£300 onsite).
- Free sessions (registration required): the Black STEM Careers Fair for ages 16 to 24, and a session called AI Advantage: Building Your Edge.
For most Birmingham business owners, a single Show day pass is the most sensible investment. If you want to go deeper on one theme, such as property or tech, add one individual session rather than a full week pass.
Is the Trip Worth It for a Birmingham Business?
It is a fair question. You will pay for tickets, travel and a day away from your business. Here is how to think about it.
What you could gain
- Introductions that would otherwise take months. If you are among the many Black founders who say they lack contacts to ask for introductions, a room of lenders, sponsors and fellow founders shortens that path.
- Funding conversations face to face. With expert clinics on funding on the programme, you can test your pitch and ask direct questions about finance.
- Customers and suppliers. Exhibitors and attendees are potential partners as well as competitors.
- Confidence. Seeing hundreds of Black-owned businesses in one place changes what feels possible.
What it will cost you
- A pass (£45 to £65 for the Show day), a £2 booking fee, and your travel to London and back.
- A day of lost trading, which you can reduce by scheduling social posts and customer messages in advance.
Treat it like any other business investment: decide what return you need before you go. One good introduction, one new supplier or one funding lead can repay the whole outlay.
A Practical Plan to Make the Most of the Day
Before you go
- Book your ticket early, since prices rise onsite.
- Study the agenda and mark three sessions and two exhibitors you must meet.
- Write a 20-second introduction that says what you do, who you serve and what you are looking for.
- Prepare a QR code that links to your website or booking page, and bring business cards as a backup.
- If you are seeking finance, bring a one-page summary of your turnover, what you need and what it is for.
On the day
- Book a slot at an expert clinic if you can. These personalised sessions are where practical advice is most likely to be specific to you.
- Ask exhibitors from banks and sponsors what products or programmes exist for businesses at your stage.
- Take notes straight after each conversation: name, what you discussed, what you promised to do.
- Do not only talk to the famous names. Many of the best leads come from the person next to you in the queue.
Within 48 hours afterwards
- Send a short, personal message to every contact, referring to something you discussed.
- Do the thing you said you would do, whether that is sending a deck, booking a call or making an introduction.
- Share what you learned with other Birmingham business owners, so the whole community benefits.
Travelling Together From Birmingham
You do not have to go alone. Consider organising a small group from Birmingham to travel together, share the cost of rail tickets and split up to cover different sessions, then compare notes on the way home. Group travel also makes the day safer and more enjoyable, and gives you a ready-made peer network afterwards. We will be using our Facebook group for exactly this, so if you are planning to attend, say so there.
What If You Cannot Make It to London?
Not everyone can spare the money or time, and that is fine. You can still:
- Register for the free sessions where you qualify.
- Follow the event’s updates online and ask contacts who attend to share what they learned.
- Look out for local Black Business events during Black History Month, such as the Birmingham Black Business Conference, which has been listed for Saturday 31 October 2026. Check the organiser’s page for current details before you plan around it.
- Prepare your own funding documents now, so you are ready when the next opportunity opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UK Black Business Show free?
No. Show day passes are listed from £45, although some individual sessions, such as the Black STEM Careers Fair and AI Advantage, are listed as free with registration.
When and where is it?
UK Black Business Week runs from 12 to 17 October 2026 at ExCeL London. The UK Black Business Show is on Saturday 17 October from 9am to 6pm.
Who is it for?
Black entrepreneurs, professionals and allies across sectors including tech, finance, law, fashion, media and property.
Conclusion
The finance gap facing Black entrepreneurs will not close overnight, and a single event will not close it either. But access runs through relationships, and relationships are built in rooms like this one. If you are a Black business owner in Birmingham with ambitions to grow, put 17 October in your diary, book your ticket, prepare your pitch and go with a plan. Better still, go with a friend from the community.
Are you planning to attend UK Black Business Week or the Show? Want company on the train? Tell us in the group and share what you hope to get from it. Join the Black Owned Birmingham Facebook group and let’s go further, together.
Event details and prices are taken from the organisers’ websites and may change. Please check the official booking pages before you buy.
