The Black Links publication was founded in 1999. The publication is now in its second decade.

It is re-launched as Black Links UK with online and offline directory: www.BlackLinks.global .The directory has a growing database which is at the centre of the black business diversity, enterprise and intelligence initiative. It serves as a platform for   business opportunities in the UK and the Diaspora.

Editorial content:

Black Links Europe 2014/15 is divided into the following

sections:

Corporate Section

Approx 24 pp of themed editorial covering eleven business sectors

Professional Services, Creative, Cultural Industries, Employment, Education and  Training, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Retail, Third Sector including Faith Groups and Charities, Public Sector, Leisure  and  Entertainment.

The editorial will include news, reviews, interviews and market research covering the following issues:

• Global Trade and Business
• Access to finance
• Funding
• Procurement
• Marketing Intelligence
• International trade and networking.
• Business start ups
• Research and development
• Imports and exports
• Fair Trade

1st EDITION 2000 “LAUNCH” PAGINATION – 334PP

3rd EDITION 2002 “THE EYE” PAGINATION – 308PP

2nd EDITION2001 “MILLENNIUM” PAGINATION – 466PP

4th EDITION 2003 “THE GLOBE” PAGINATION – 210PP

Classified / Directory Section (Approx 128pp). Standard industrial classifications of approximately

20,000 to increase to over 60,000 BME businesses divided regionally, nationally and internationally.

Information at a glance (IAG)

The BME business research and event calendar.

The Target Market Profile:

• Business to Business – 60,000 BME businesses.
• Central and local government organisations.
• Private corporate companies targeting the BME sector.
• Individuals and consumers interested in BME market place.

Black Links UK Distribution Strategy

• Print – 25 000 copies
• Readership – 125 000 copies

Rate Card

Products and Services

1. Quarterly Themed Business magazines – (16 page, A4 tabloid magazines online and print featuring specific business sectors).

Featuring seven themed controlled circulated business sectors:

1. intelligence featuring Professional Services Sector (7,500)
2. inspire featuring Creative and Cultural Industries (8,000)
3. indulge featuring Leisure & Entertainment (2,500)
4. inform featuring Public Sector (tbc)
5. 5. influence featuring Third Sector (Faith groups and Charities) (4, 000)
6. interact featuring International Trade and Networking (tbc)

Editorial content

• Market Intelligence by sector
• News, reviews and interviews of industry leaders
• Procurement and contract advice by sector
• Legislation and compliance information
• Sector Recruitment and Training

Business Magazine advertising rate card

• Recruitment: £25.00 SCC
• Run of paper: £20.00 SCC
• Classified: £18.00 SCC

Sponsorship packages – To be negotiated

Distribution Strategy

• Print run 5 – 10 000copies
• Readership 25 000copies
• Controlled circulation – Free to BME businesses (SME) operating in the relevant sectors.

2. 2. Black Links UK Database

• Direct mail service
• SMS Text messaging
• Telephony sales
• Research marketing

Black Links UK Database Rate Card

• Direct mail – £175.00 per 1`000 Business Contacts
• SMS text service – TBC
• Telephony sales service – TBC
• Market research – TBC
• Market research – dependent on package

Controlled circulation – 5000 copies

Distributed to:

• Business centres
• 25 London colleges and Universities
• Central Libraries
• Enterprise Agencies
• 1 000 selected
• Local authorities
• Embassies / High commissions
• 3, 000 top BME businesses, across eleven business sectors

Sponsorship Programme

intelligence Featuring Professional Services

Editorial Content:

• Supply & Procurement
• Finance & Banking
• Business Start-ups
• Energy
• It Telecommunications
• Legal
• Marketing
• Research & Development
• Directory Listings

inspire featuring Creative & Cultural Industries

Editorial Content:

• Design
• Art & Craft
• Sculpture
• Fine Art
• Jewellery
• Hair & Beauty Services & Products
• Directory Listings

indulge featuring Leisure & Entertainment

Editorial content:

• Leisure
• Food & drink
• Film
• Media
• Directory Listings

inform featuring Public Sector

Editorial content:

• Central & local government
• Health & alternative
• Therapy
• Adoption & fostering
• NHS
• Directory Listings

influence featuring third sector

Editorial content:

• Faith groups
• Voluntary & charity
• Organisations
• Directory Listings

interact featuring International trade & Networking

Editorial content:

• Import trade mission
• Export legislation
• Country Reports including emerging markets by sector
• Directory Listings

Research Data

• Members of the African Caribbean Community are twice as likely as other Londoners to start up their own business.*
• London estimated 300.000 businesses are primarily engaged in services –based activities. Only 13% of businesses are in the manufacturing and construction sectors.*
• 29% of black business owners were women. This compares favourably with representations of white and Asian women owners, which were 21% and 15% respectively.*
• African Caribbean people and Asians from Indian subcontinent are more likely to start a business than their British counterparts respectively.*
• African Caribbean businesses contribute £5.6 billion to London’s economy.* There are approximately around 132. 000 BME owned businesses in United
• Kingdom, employing 1.1 million people and generating combined turn over of £90 billion in 2004.
• There are approximately 186, 000 self – employed people from the BME communities who are also contributing to the United Kingdom’s economy.
• Total entrepreneurial activity for white females is 3.6% and is two and half times higher amongst women from mixed backgrounds (10.2%), for Bangladesh women (10.9%), other Asians (10.3%) and black Caribbean’s (10.5%). The most entrepreneurial female grouping is that of ‘other black’ at 29.9% of all women (GEM 2004).
• In London, the average proportion of women owners is 21% for white owned businesses, 29% for black owned businesses and 15% for Asian owned Businesses (LABS 2003).
• The predominant source of start up finance for many ethnic groups is friends and family. The figures are other Asian 53.4%, Pakistan 93%, Black African
• 52.6%, and Black other 52.9%.  The predominant source of finance for white people is overdraft (29.3%) as it is for black Caribbean’s people (38.8%).

i-Magazine 2014/15 of 6 Themed Series Distribution Strategy

• Print – 25 000 copies
• Readership – 125 000 copies

Rate Card

Controlled circulation – 5000 copies

Distributed to:

• Business centres
• 25 London colleges and Universities
• Central Libraries
• Enterprise Agencies
• 1 000 selected
• Local authorities
• Embassies / High commissions
• 5, 000 top BME businesses, across eleven business sectors

Sponsorship Programme