Connect Derby boss helps BAME-led firms get Covid support

The boss of Connect Derby has been playing a key role in helping BAME-led businesses in the city access the support available to help them through the coronavirus crisis.

Ann Bhatti, who is head of the Derby City Council managed workspace scheme, has been volunteering her time at evenings and weekends to help members of the local Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) business community.

Over the last eight months, she has organised a series of socially-distanced face-to-face meetings to help firms access the Government’s £10,000 Small Business relief grant and signpost them to a range of other help and support available via Derby City Council and organisations, such as D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

When the first lockdown started, Ann’s mum, who is active in her local community, mentioned that a lot of local businesses were scared about what was happening and asked if she would talk to them.

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A meeting was arranged at a local venue. Ann took information from the Government website about the schemes that were going to be available to local businesses and talked it through in both English and Mirpuri.

When the grant schemes were launched, she emailed the relevant information over.

Some businesses were still struggling, mainly with language barriers or lack of IT skills, so Ann staged workshop sessions on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

She helped them complete the relevant forms, took copies of documentation such as tenancy agreements and utility bills, helped them complete online forms for the Valuation Office and sent it over to the business rates team at Derby City Council.

As each business got its problems resolved, word spread, and other businesses started attending the sessions.

To date, Ann has supported 17 local businesses based in and around the Normanton and Peartree areas of Derby where she grew up.

She said: “I am always keen to give back to my local community, so when I heard that many BAME businesses were struggling, I was keen to do my bit to help.

“In many cases, businesses simply needed guiding through the application process, which I’ve been able to help them by staging a series of socially distanced meetings in the community.

“I’ve also advised many more businesses by Zoom or Skype and signposted them to other organisations in the city.”

Councillor Mick Barker, the city council’s cabinet member for governance and licensing, said: “Throughout the Covid pandemic I am aware of many selfless acts of assistance from both members of the public and by officers of Derby City Council.

“Ann Bhatti is a shining example of that freely given assistance in recognising the confusion that can result from legislative and bureaucratic procedures required to access funding and grants during these times.

“It’s great to know that many have gained good advice and benefit from Ann’s assistance.

“She is a daily exemplar for the spirit of this city council in its service to all residents of Derby whenever help is needed.”