Two London businesses have each won £25,000 at KPMG UK’s annual Black Entrepreneurs’ Awards (BEA), recognising some of the UK’s most promising Black Heritage entrepreneurs.
The two London winners, sun-care brand BEAME and education-focused organisation Black British Initiative, were selected from more than 140 entrants nationwide, securing funding to support the next stage of their growth.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative supports emerging Black Heritage entrepreneurs by providing a platform to showcase their ventures to a wider audience and opening up opportunities for growth.
Four businesses impressed the judges to win £25,000 each from a total of 12 finalists. Alongside the London winners were Surrey-based Creative Nature, a free-from food brand, and Scotland-based Draconite, a materials technology firm.
All finalists will receive exclusive access to a 12-month acceleration programme created to provide guidance, expertise and connections to support their business.
The winners are:
Most promising medium Business: BEAME
BEAME is a science-backed sun-care brand offering colour-changing UV detection stickers that prompt sunscreen reapplication, alongside UPF 50+ facial patches for targeted protection.
Eniye Okah, Founder & CEO at BEAME, said:
“I applied for the KPMG Black Entrepreneurs’ Awards last year and wasn’t successful, so coming back this year and winning means a lot. Building BEAME has required persistence, and this £25,000 will help us take the next step as we prepare to expand into retail in 2027.”
Most promising not-for-profit business: BLACK BRITISH INITIATIVE
Black British Initiative delivers the MBA 30 Programme with SOAS University of London. It is an accelerated four-week executive education course equipping underserved Black founders with commercial, financial forecasting, and governance skills while connecting diverse businesses to corporate supply chains.
Darren Miller, Founder and CEO at Black British Initiative, said:
“Our amazing nation benefits from a rich tapestry of ethnicities, cognitively diverse minds, all ready to play their part in building the UK.
“Currently, Britain’s 200,000 Black entrepreneurs represent a largely untapped opportunity because these first- and second-generation Black Brits have never been taught how to develop and build a scalable business. The accredited and super accelerated MBA 30 delivered by SOAS University of London fixes this problem, by providing the knowledge to create larger more profitable enterprises, all ready to deliver new solutions to age old problems.
“As winners of the KPMG Black Entrepreneur Awards 2026, we can’t wait to embrace all the benefits of KPMG’s mentorship and indeed, by working closely with KPMG, we are more confident about achieving our goals”.
Anna Purchas, London Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK, said:
“A huge congratulations to BEAME and Black British Initiative on this well-deserved recognition. Both businesses are making a real difference in their respective fields, from BEAME bringing fresh innovation to the sun-care market to Black British Initiative helping underserved Black founders access the skills and opportunities they need to grow.
“London has a thriving and diverse entrepreneurial landscape, with ambitious founders developing new ideas and creating opportunities for others. To see two of this year’s four winners come from the capital is a fantastic reflection of that talent and ambition. I look forward to seeing these businesses continue to grow and make their mark.”
Since launching in 2018, KPMG UK’s Black Entrepreneurs’ Awards have so far supported 48 Black Heritage founders, providing around £600,000 worth of investment.
The programme has become a springboard for Black-owned businesses. Some of the previous finalists have gone on to raise over £3 million in funding, expand internationally, feature on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and received MBEs in recognition of their impact on making venture capital more inclusive.
