LONDON – Jamaica Enterprise Network United Kingdom (JEN-UK), a new initiative to support and encourage business development and wealth creation within the Jamaican community in the UK, was launched on Thursday (Nov. 16) at the Jamaican High Commission in London.
More than 80 interested persons attended the official launch of JEN-UK, which seeks to empower Jamaicans to build efficient, sustainable and successful businesses and to command a greater share of the £32 billion spending power of the ethnic community in the UK.
The network, which came out of the Jamaica Diaspora UK Conference last June, is in recognition of the need for an organisation that will raise the profile of Jamaican-linked business, offer opportunities for collaboration, and provide a forum for the exchange of views on best practice in the business arena.
In carrying out its work, JEN-UK will create an effective database of businesses and entrepreneurial skills; set up a business mentorship programme; foster links between Jamaican and UK-based businesses; and encourage Jamaican Diaspora-owned businesses to invest in the island.
The coordinators and founding members of JEN-UK are: Deputy High Commissioner Sharon Saunders; Jamaica Diaspora UK Board Member and Chief UK Representative of Jamaica National Building Society, Paulette Simpson; General Manager of J Wray and Nephew UK, Diane Edwards; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Priority Group, Denis St. Bernard; and CEO of Nichols Employment and Recruitment Agency, Joy Nichols.
Declaring that the focus must be placed on the creation of visible wealth within the Jamaican community, Ms Edwards said that one of the proposals is to emulate the Indian Diaspora, which in 1992, established The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) to foster wealth creation within the global Indian community.
TIE is now the largest non-profit entrepreneurial network in the world, with estimated wealth creation in the region US $235 billion over the last 15 years.
High Commissioner Burchell Whiteman, who officially launched JEN-UK, welcomed the initiative, which he said is in keeping with the Government’s programme to seriously engage the Diaspora in expanding Brand Jamaica.
In the meantime, Jamaican born-entrepreneur, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, who was the guest presenter at the launch, spoke about his journey from Jamaica and growing up in Birmingham to setting up his Black Farmer company, which produces a range of sausages and sauces. The business has recorded sales of more than £6 million.
His key message to the participants was not to fear failure but to persevere, have focus and a strong belief in one’s abilities.
