Welcome to our 2024 Anniversary Gala
Welcome to the first anniversary gala of Black Business Magazine!
We are thrilled to have you join us for this momentous occasion as we celebrate a year of excellence, growth, and the unveiling of our highly anticipated anniversary edition, “Women of Influence.”
Thank you for joining us in this celebration. Let us continue to make history together.
Warm regards,
Dr. Tru Powell
CEO, Black Business Magazine
Justice Williams MBE
Editor-in-Chief, Black Business Magazine
EVENT SCHEDULE
19:00 Guests Arrive (Welcome Drinks)
19:30 Call to dinner
19:40 Host – Scarlette Douglass
Live Entertainment
Claudine Reid, Chair, Lloyds Bank (Welcome)
20:00 Dinner
21:30 Live Entertainment
Speeches
Justice Williams MBE
Dr Tru Powell
Jon Blackbourn – Schumacher Packaging (sponsor)
21:50 Happy Birthday
22:00 Unveiling of the anniversary edition with Candice Brathwaite
22:30 DJ
12:00 Event Closes
Cover Star: Candice Brathwaite
In this special anniversary edition dedicated to Black women's indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements, we proudly present Candice Brathwaite as our cover star. Candice, a Sunday Times bestselling author, is not just a voice; she is a vibrant force of change, innovation, and empowerment in the Black community.
Gala Host: Scarlette Douglas
Scarlette Douglas started her professional career in musical theatre. After eight years of performing in the West End, UK and the world over, she knew it was time to venture into a new form of entertainment. Scarlette landed her first presenting job in 2015 for Channel 4’s longest running daytime programme, ‘A Place in the Sun’ and in January 2020, she presented her own prime-time travel show, also on Channel 4 entitled, ‘Holiday Secrets… is Last Minute Best?’ Scarlette has reported for BBC One’s ‘Points of View’ and ‘The One Show’, ITV’s Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, co-hosted on ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’, featured on numerous celebrity led Channel 5 programmes, has hosted various live events and has been a radio host on Heart Radio. In July 2020, she landed her own brand new, prime-time property show for HGVT UK titled, ‘My Dream Derelict Home in the Sun’, fronted Channel 4’s Black to Front episode of ‘Love it or list it’ with her brother Stuart in the September and, along with him and George Clarke, was part of a brand new, competitive property format, ‘Flipping Fast’, that aired early 2022. Since then, Scarlette and Stuart have taken the UK TV property world by storm and developed and fronted their own show for Channel 4, ‘Worst House on the Street’, now in its third series and ‘Can’t Sell, Must Sell’, their latest venture; all produced by Southshore Productions. Thanks to all of this and more, Scarlette is fast becoming one of the most trusted property experts in television and is not only keen to continue working in front of camera, but has also set up a production company to develop ideas behind it.
ENTERTAINMENT
Bianca Ashlee
With over 15 years of experience, Bianca-Ashlee is a multi-faceted contemporary singer, award-winning Vocal teacher and arranger. As well as the director of Vocal Nova academy, recently nominated for ‘best education provider’. She immersed herself into the music industry at 19 years old through the provision of bespoke vocal arrangements for artists including Lemar, the Saturdays and PJ Morton. This then progressed into collaborating with various musicians throughout the UK as a Singer and Vocal arranger.
Her musical expertise includes Commercial Song writing, arranging for International Artists, Choirs and nationwide Performing Arts Academy’s including the prestigious Aston performing Arts academy in Birmingham whereby she has been a vocal teacher and arranger for over a decade. Bianca showcases her voice through Various musical styles including Indie, Gospel, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pop, RnB and Soul. Academically Bianca is a qualified Teacher, with Degree certification including, BA Hons childhood education and youth studies and Music performance.
‘My voice is the palette, and the stage is my canvas, I hope you are not only ready for a performance, but an experience.
Tanisha Emmanuel
Founded in the church, having been encouraged to sing, showing promise from a young tender age, Tanisha Emmanuel’s singing career was established.
Now as an experienced professional singer, backing vocalist, vocal educator, recording artist and aspiring songwriter, she currently tours the U.K. with RUSH theatre company and also regularly works with other highly esteemed vocalists and musicians for festivals, social, private and corporate events, including weddings.
Her musical ear and style are heavily influenced by genres such as Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Pop, RnB, Soul and reggae.
As her dreams and opportunities grow, so does her confidence; love and passion for music.
APPA House Band
APAA is a community interest organisation committed to empowering the lives of young people through performing and creative arts. This is mainly achieved through offering music tuition and performance opportunities to the next generation of emerging talent in Birmingham. Currently working with up to 100 young people, the academy continues to grow and recruit more budding stars at a rapid pace.
Currently based in the inner-city, the academy works with approximately 100 young people weekly aged 6-24 years old, developing their music, dance, drama and performance skills.
In 2010 ‘Elements of Song’ was born out of the Academy, creating a stir across the Midlands as the new talented, emerging ‘Urban Glee’ group. Since then, they have performed at many events over the years, including MBCC Awards, Selfridges, Birmingham Awards, Harry Moseley Ball, Yonex final at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena, Birmingham Pride Awards, and opened Grand Central Station.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT MANAGEMENT
