State of the Nation 2026

The conversation starts here

State of the Nation 2026

Scale-up, reach beyond London and the South East, and AI. One evening with the people who can act on what is said in the room.

BCON’s flagship evening brings senior Black leaders together to speak plainly with peers. Hosted by Lloyds Banking Group in Birmingham, the evening explores the questions shaping Black business and leadership in Britain. Doors open at 17:30 for food and networking. The formal programme runs from 18:30 to 20:30, followed by networking until 21:00. Bring photo identification for building security.

Three themes. One shared ambition.

Scale-up & senior leadership

Growing substantial Black-owned businesses and moving into roles with real authority.

Reach beyond London

Bringing investment, support and opportunity to the regions.

AI & the next chapter

What new tools mean for Black-owned businesses and the skills that matter next.

Your evening

From 17:30
Doors, food and networking
A full hour before anything formal. Food is served from 17:30 and stops at 18:30, so arrive hungry and meet four or five people you did not know.
18:30
Welcome, and the state of the nation in numbers
Rebekah Taitt welcomes you to Lloyds and to BCON, then Karl George sets the context for the evening with the figures behind it.
Then
Spotlights and quick-fire introductions
People stand, say who they are and what they run. New senior leaders are introduced to the room. Have your twenty seconds ready: name, organisation, sector, size.
Then
Keynotes
Amanda Murphy, Chief Executive of Business and Commercial Banking at Lloyds Banking Group, on Lloyds and the retention and uplift of Black talent. Tevin Tobun, founder and CEO of ROUTD Technology, on building a substantial business and scaling it, including the part that nearly did not work.
Then
State of the Nation panel
Hosted by Yetunde Dania, with five panellists who spent the afternoon at a closed round table on the three themes. Questions from the floor are part of the slot, so bring one.
Then
Neighbour discussions
Karl puts three questions to the room. You talk for ten minutes with the people next to you, then feed back. Everybody gets a voice, and this is where the safe space conversation gets real.
20:30 onwards
Close, then open networking until 21:00
Food and drink stay out. The relationships that started at 17:30 get to finish properly.

People you will hear from

Amanda Murphy

Chief Executive, Business and Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group

Keynote. Thirty years in commercial banking; leads the division supporting around a million UK businesses.

Tevin Tobun

Founder and CEO, ROUTD Technology

Keynote. Serial founder with exits and acquisitions over twenty years; member of Lloyds' Black Business Advisory Committee.

Yetunde Dania

Partner and Head of the Birmingham office, Trowers & Hamlins

Panel host. First chair of the WMCA Race Equalities Taskforce.

Carmen Watson DL

Chair, Pertemps Network Group

Panellist. Joined as a secretary, on the board by 30, now chairs a group with around £1.2bn turnover.

Professor Robert Beckford

Professor of Climate and Social Justice, University of Winchester

Panellist. The UK's first Professor of Black Theology; BAFTA-winning broadcaster.

Kevin Davis DL

Group Chief Executive, The Vine Trust Group

Panellist. Chairs a twelve-school trust educating over 10,000 students; over 10,000 apprenticeship opportunities created.

Riki Bleau

Founder and Co-President, Since '93, Sony Music UK

Panellist. Built the UK's leading Black-owned label, home to Tems, Tyla, Fredo and Aitch.

Tayo Adebisi

Founder and CEO, Tilz Prosperitas, Leeds

Panellist. Started with £5,000; now exports six brands across Europe and North America.

Rebekah Taitt

Executive Support Director to the CEO, Business and Commercial Banking, Lloyds

Your host for the evening. Vice Chair of the Black Business Advisory Shadow Committee.

Karl George MBE

Founder, BCON; Chair, Black Business Advisory Committee, Lloyds Banking Group

Chairs the round table and leads the evening. Founder of The Governance Forum and author of the Race Equality Code.

A space to speak openly.

The panel and neighbour discussions are closed to the press. Please treat what people share in those conversations as confidential.

Bring your twenty-second introduction, a question for the panel, and a willingness to hear a different perspective.

Questions to bring to the conversation

What would help your business or career move to its next stage?
What could your region offer that the national picture misses?
How is AI changing your work, and what support would help?

Come with the context.

Read the research, explore the evidence and carry the conversation beyond the evening.

Explore the reports