In honour of Black History Month 2025, CB Plus, as part of its Unity Rise project, hosted the Black Business Fair on Thursday 16th October 2025 at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, bringing together over 10 Black-led businesses from across Barnet to showcase creativity, resilience, and innovation. The event was supported by Trust for London, Hammersons, Barnet Council, and Middlesex University.
The fair celebrated the theme of Black History Month 2025, Standing Firm in Power and Pride, highlighting the strength, resilience, and contributions of Black-led entrepreneurs while encouraging community engagement and support for local businesses. Attendees had the opportunity to hear firsthand from business owners why supporting Black-led businesses is so vital, while also networking and connecting with community leaders.
Visitors enjoyed a lively and engaging atmosphere, exploring a wide range of products and services, including fashion, beauty, food, wellness, and creative offerings. The event provided a platform for businesses to demonstrate their expertise, connect with potential customers, and build relationships with fellow entrepreneurs.
Ugo Ikokwu, Grants Manager at Trust for London, officially opened the event, stating:
We know that Black-led businesses often face systemic barriers – from access to finance and space to visibility. Part of our role is to remove some of those barriers so Black-led businesses can thrive, not just survive. By supporting this initiative, we are investing not just in businesses, but in families, neighbourhoods, and future generations.
We spoke with Abi Laja, founder of Tabern Place, who highlighted the value of the event for her business:
“Having the opportunity to connect with other Black-led businesses, learn from their experiences, and network was incredible,” she said. “This was the first time I’ve showcased my products in a setting like this.”
The Black Business Fair created valuable opportunities for connection, collaboration, and exposure, strengthening Barnet’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many businesses reported that the fair offered a unique chance to raise awareness, share their stories, and connect with people they wouldn’t normally meet. We hope to bring the fair back in the future to continue celebrating and supporting the vital contributions of Black-led businesses in Barnet and beyond.
To meet the businesses from the day and learn more about the Unity Rise project, visit: https://cbplus.org.uk/unity-rise.
