Businesses in Torbay which are led by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are being asked to take part in a survey.

Diversity Business Incubator (DBI) is carrying out the survey on behalf of TDA and Torbay Council. DBI is a community interest company (CIC) passionate about elevating business success in the Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnicity (BAME) entrepreneurs and businesses in the south west offering comprehensive and sustainable business support to help them thrive in business and integrate effectively into their wider community.

The aim is to find out the issues that face black and minority ethnic owned businesses and also people from those communities who aspire to start their own businesses.

The survey will also help inform the ongoing Torbay Racism Review. This Review was launched in September 2020 following protests which started around the world in May 2020 after George Floyd died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, USA, including mass demonstrations in London and Bristol. During that time the Review Panel has spoken to representatives from a range of organisations from the local NHS and police to local businesses and schools and voluntary groups.

Councillor Jermaine Atiya-Alla who heads up the Torbay Racism Review, said: “This is a really important survey and I would encourage anyone who works for a Torbay based business and is from a Black or minority ethnic background, or anyone from those backgrounds who is thinking of launching their own business, to tell us what you think.”

The feedback from this survey will:

• Inform the development of a new economic plan for Torbay
• Identify the potential for the establishment of a network group to bring together business owners and leaders from these communities for peer support
• Encourage more people from these communities to participate in the Torbay Business Forum and the forthcoming Torbay Champions Programme.

The survey will also help raise awareness of existing support from TDA to businesses from a Black and Minority Ethnic background, and the project will then aim to design a dedicated network platform.

Leader of Torbay Council Steve Darling said: “The research being undertaken by DBI on behalf of Torbay Council and TDA is incredibly important in understanding the needs of the BAME community and will help inform the council’s economic strategy in supporting BAME businesses to thrive in Torbay”.   

Deputy Leader Darren Cowell said: “We are committed to supporting diverse communities here in Torbay and this survey will be a great opportunity for the Council and TDA to engage with local communities and improve how we all work together going forward.”

David Feindouno Finance Director at Diversity Business Incubator, said: “Both of our organisations feel a deep sense of responsibility to serve our local communities where so many of our employees, family, friends and ourselves work and live.”

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