THE finalists of this year's Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) have been announced.

A total of 39 black professionals across the UK have been shortlisted across 12 categories for their achievements and contributions to the business world.

Miya Knights, 45, has been nominated for the arts and media senior leader of the year award.

Ms Knights, from Brighton, is a global content strategist at Poq Commerce and a published author.

She has over 23 years of experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, analyst, research director, consultant and now a content strategist.

She is the co-author of two best-selling books, ‘Amazon: How the world’s most revolutionary retailer...’and ‘Omnichannel Retail,’co-written with the former deputy CEO of Tesco, Tim Mason.

Ms Knights said: “I am grateful and honoured be recognised by the Black British Business Awards alongside such talented and accomplished professionals.

"The systemic disadvantages that Black people in business have had to overcome have been well documented, so it’s incredibly empowering to see so many succeeding in their respective fields.

"But it’s not just about empowering us as finalists or as black leaders in British society, it’s also a great to hopefully inspire those coming up behind us."

The BBBAwards have announced that the theme of the 2021 virtual ceremony is 'amplify’ in response to the large impact on black communities of the last 18 months.

The disproportionate effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, the revival of the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial abuse directed at players following the Euro 2020 final has led organisers to highlight the importance of 'amplifying' black voices from a range of industries.

Sophie Chandauka, executive founder and chairwoman of the awards said: “After an extraordinarily challenging year, I am thrilled that for the eighth year running we are highlighting the resilience and abundance of brilliant, black talent in Britain.

"Our finalists have delivered tremendous commercial value across sectors in volatile markets where entrepreneurs, in particular, have been decimated.

"They have been strategic advisors to their companies and boards as global corporations are challenged by investors to address systemic racism.

"Despite the pandemic and social unrest, they are fiercely competitive and remarkably ambitious, creative and commercially savvy, leveraging technology as their differentiator."

Winners for each category, as well as the Black British Business Person of the Year, will be revealed at the Black British Business Awards virtual ceremony taking place on October 7 2021.

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