OCTOBER 18 will see the inaugural London Chamber of Commerce Black Excellence Awards. The awards will take place at Boisdale in Canary Wharf, and seeks to recognise the achievements of the UK’s diverse black community with a specific aim on the celebration of the community’s contributions to the UK’s economic development and cultural landscape.

The evening will see various people from this community celebrated and awarded for their inspirational achievements. Many well-known faces will also be present, including the hosts themselves, popular TV personalities Charlene White and Jay Blades.

The event fittingly takes place during Black History Month; a month dedicated to celebrating black excellence of past and present.

Paula Powell, one of the core team putting the even together, Paula Powell took time to talk to The Voice’s Matthew Chadder, about the importance of the awards and what can be expected.

MC: Summarise the awards and what they are all about?

PP: We’re collaborating with the London Chamber of Commerce (LCC), they’re our main sponsor. Boisdale is a Scottish restaurant based in Canary Wharf who are hosting the event.

We’ve got various categories in the same kind of template as any other awards but this particular one is more designed for the London Chamber of Commerce to be showcased.

The LCC wants to get out there to small businesses owned b the Afro Caribbean community, and they want to support them financially whilst directing them with business plans and all the tools you need when you’re setting up a business.

We’ve got some interesting guests coming, including Trevor McDonald, who will be awarded a lifetime achievement award. We want to make it as dynamic and different as possible.

We are trying to get as many interesting characters there as possible, the Jackson brothers are coming along as well. Hopefully that will kind of encourage people to buy their tickets and come along. This interview is not about advertising in any way, it’s introducing the London Chamber of Commerce, a way to promote themselves to support small businesses.

Why is this award ceremony so important?

The main importance is showcasing what is out there for business owners and the London Chamber of Commerce, and what they are doing, and what they have to offer. It’s going to be a unique and prestigious event which is more open towards the grassroots of our community, that’s kind of my buzzword because I don’t feel that we necessarily appreciate these individuals enough.

What kind of awards will be on offer?

Outstanding contribution to literature, fashion, professional services, singers – female and male and sport.

One particular award is designed for Jamal Edwards, which we’re just in the process of working out who’s going to pick up that award. We’re just trying to get the right candidate.

What kind of people are up for these awards?

Well, for the literature award, we’ve got a young man who is 17 and he’s written a book.

We’re mixing the seniors with the juniors because we feel that everybody is an expert in their areas. Some people who are in certain categories are not known, we’ve pulled them out because they’re quietly beavering away and doing some really great stuff, but they haven’t got 1000s of followers, they’ve never been on the TV before.

So yes, we are mixing it because who says that someone should win an award because they’re a household name and we know who they are?

That’s what makes it slightly different to some of the other awards that are out there at the moment

What was the selection process like for the awards on offer?

The process was a headache! There’s some brilliant individuals doing exceedingly well, if we could give everybody an award, we would, but that’s not what awards are about, unfortunately.

It’s been challenging, but what’s good is that we’re working with each other, we’re all on the same page.

The awards are taking place during Black History month, which is incredibly important isn’t it?

We definitely wanted it around Black History Month, that was certainly orchestrated.

Do you have any plans to grow and develop the event?

We’re in the early stages. Next year, we can make it a bigger affair, because at the moment it’s going to be intimate, and that’s beautiful, but I think we can make it bigger. We can include more categories which are going to touch all types of different genres of people who are doing things out there.