One Africa Network Project

传统上，少数民族企业家（EMEs）与低增长行业部门有关（Jones and Ram, 2007； Carter等人，2015；Ram等人，2016，第6页）。与其他族裔相比，少数族裔初创企业和小企业增长缓慢，早期失败率高，创业生态系统脱节，商业和管理技能短缺，以及获取信息和资源的渠道不足，这些都不利于应对这一挑战。由于种族分层和地理挑战的困扰，少数民族企业家，特别是非洲企业，往往处于政府倡议和支持的末端（Boyd, 2018），包括通常通过各地区商会等半官方组织提供的支持。一个非洲网络（OAN）是SSCG咨询公司的一项倡议，该公司是非洲中部地区黑人和非洲企业家、投资者、企业、领导者和专业人士的领先网络，成立于2018年，旨在激励、支持和推动非洲企业进入更高增长和更有回报的行业领域。作为中部地区非洲裔黑人少数民族企业家和专业人士的代言人，自2018年以来，非洲裔非洲人组织通过定期举办活动和倡议，提高了中部地区数百名非洲裔黑人和少数民族专业人士、企业家和小企业的潜力、参与度、竞争力和生产力。在2019冠状病毒病大流行之前，我们通过组织面对面的鼓舞人心和能力发展活动，提供了解决上述需求的解决方案，这些活动有助于联系成员，促进黑人和非洲社区就紧迫的商业和经济问题进行辩论，鼓励各商业部门和学科之间的知识、机会和合作共享。这为我们的会员提供了一些好处，包括学习和分享新的机会，建立新的合作网络，创业和管理技能。然而，自2019冠状病毒病大流行以来，以及随后的政府封锁，无法使用以前的方法举办这些面对面的活动，然而，大流行加剧了我们成员的需求。为了向我们的会员提供远程服务，我们必须在我们的方法和运营模式上进行创新和变革，利用数字技术并将我们的所有活动转移到网上。这个项目将帮助我们与我们的会员保持联系和支持。额外的资金将使OAN计划能够延长项目期限并创新其运营模式，从而为成员提供额外的可交付成果和影响，并为受COVID-19影响的英国广泛的BAME企业和专业人士提供支持，帮助他们转变技能和业务，获得新知识，建立网络和抵御能力，以应对当前充满挑战的经济环境，向市场推出新业务和新产品。

Ethnic minority entrepreneurs (EMEs) have traditionally been associated with lower growth industry sectors (Jones and Ram, 2007; Carter _et al._, 2015; Ram _et al._, 2016, p. 6). This challenge has not been helped by slow growth and high early-failure of minorities' start-ups and small businesses - relative that of other ethnicities, a disconnected entrepreneurial ecosystem, business and management skills' shortages and poor access to information and resources.Bogged down by ethnic stratification and geographical challenges, ethnic minority entrepreneurs, and African businesses in particular, have often been at the tail end of government initiatives and support (Boyd, 2018), including that they are typically delivered through Quangos such as the various regional chambers of commerce.One Africa Network (OAN) is an initiative of SSCG Consulting, the leading network for Black and African entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, leaders and professionals in the Midlands, established in 2018 with a vision to inspire, support and catapult African businesses into higher growth and more rewarding industry sectors. As the voice of Black African Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs and professional in the midlands, OAN, through regular events and initiatives, has, since 2018, enhanced the potential, participation, competitiveness and productivity of hundreds of Black and African Minority professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Midlands.Prior to the Covid19 pandemic, our solutions to address the above needs were delivered through organising face to face inspirational and capacity development events that helped to connect members, facilitate debate on pressing business and economic issues amongst the Black and African communities, encouraged the sharing of knowledge, opportunities and collaboration across various business sectors and disciplines. This offered several benefits to our members, including learning and sharing new opportunities, building new networks for collaboration, entrepreneurial & management skills. However, since the Covid19 pandemic, and subsequent Government lockdown, it has not been possible to host these face-to-face activities, using previous methods - yet the needs for our members have, if anything, been exacerbated by the pandemic.In order to reach and deliver service to our members remotely, we have had to be innovative and transformative in our approach and operating model, taking advantage of digital technologies and moving all our activities online. This project will help us to maintain contact with, and support for our members. Additional funding will allow OAN programme to increase project duration and innovate its operating model to give additional deliverables, impact to members and provide support to wide BAME businesses and professionals affected by COVID-19 across the UK by helping them to transform skills and businesses, gain new knowledge, build networks and resilience to navigate current challenging economic environment, launch new businesses and products to markets.