Black Talent Awards return to Edgbaston for fifth year

The Black Talent Awards return to Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham tonight for a fifth anniversary ceremony celebrating Black professionals, entrepreneurs and organisations from across the UK.

The black-tie event, billed as Chapter Five, will see winners named in 15 categories, covering industries from finance and technology to education, media, public services, retail and social impact.

Back where it began

The awards were founded by Denise Myers as a grassroots initiative in Birmingham, and the first ceremony was held at Edgbaston.

"Bringing the Awards back to Edgbaston Stadium for the fifth anniversary is incredibly meaningful because this is where The BTA's started," the organisers said. "Chapter Five is about celebrating how far we have come, recognising the people who are shaping Britain today, and looking ahead to the next chapter."

Ms Myers said: "BTA started as a grassroots initiative in Birmingham and has grown into a national stage for professionals, entrepreneurs and organisations making a real difference across the UK."

The shortlist

More than 300 nominations were considered, and 45 finalists were shortlisted. Judging was carried out by a panel of 31 senior leaders from law, technology, media, education and healthcare, joined by ten youth judges. Since the awards began, 95 winners have been recognised.

Categories include Rising Star of the Year, Senior Leader of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, STEM Employee of the Year, Excellence in Education and Social Impact Organisation of the Year, as well as awards for employee resource groups, the staff networks that many large employers run.

Local finalists

Several finalists come from the region. They include the Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation, shortlisted for Small Business of the Year, the Walsall Black Sisters Collective, in the running for Social Impact Organisation of the Year, and Coventry City Council's Sandra Simpson, a finalist for Public Sector and Services Employee of the Year.

National names on the list include employees from Barclays, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Deloitte, Penguin Random House, Macmillan Cancer Support and Comic Relief, as well as The Open University in the education category.

Why awards like this matter

Supporters say awards that celebrate Black talent help to create visible role models and encourage employers to look at how they recruit, promote and support staff. Research has repeatedly found that Black professionals are under-represented in senior roles across many industries in the UK.

Black History Month

The ceremony takes place at the start of Black History Month, which runs throughout October. Birmingham's 35th Black History Month programme was launched on Monday, with talks, exhibitions, films, heritage walks and family events taking place across the city.

About Edgbaston

Edgbaston Stadium, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, has become a popular venue for conferences, dinners and awards ceremonies as well as international cricket. Warwickshire were crowned county champions there last week.

Find out more

The winners will be published on the Black Talent Awards website and social media channels after the ceremony.

Birmingham's diverse workforce

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe. According to the 2021 Census, around one in ten residents identified as Black, Black British, Caribbean or African, and the city's Black communities have long played a central part in its public services, businesses, culture and sport. Organisers say they hope the awards will inspire young people in the city to aim high in their careers.