Skip to content

Big Career Conference 2027

Thursday 1st April

Get Tickets
Visit Site

Black Professionals UK

Be the best in your career

Get Ready for #TBSA2026

00
Days
00
Hours
00
Minutes
00
Seconds
  • Hilton, Glasgow - 26th Sept 2026

The Black Scottish Awards

Get #TBSA2026 Ticket
Nominate Now
Sponsor #TBSA2026

After what was a successful TBSA2025, we can proudly say the Black Scottish Awards gave us a night to remember. Our third year brought the Hilton Glasgow to life with over 500 amazing guests who filled the room with warmth, style and excitement.

The atmosphere was something you could feel. The glow of gowns and tuxedos, the conversations flowing from every corner, the music, the laughter and even a few emotional moments all came together to create an evening that truly touched people.

If you were there, you already know how special it was. If you missed it, the photos and highlights will carry you right back into the heart of the celebration.

TBSA2025 raised the bar, and TBSA2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger and better. The countdown has begun.

Watch #TBSA2025

View the 2025 Winners

Nominate for #TBSA 2026

Ally of the Year
Business of Excellence of the Year
Community Organisation
of the Year
Creative of the Year
Global Citizen Award 2026
Diversity Champion of the Year
Outstanding Contribution to the Black Community
Professional Rising Star of the Year
Professional Senior Leader of the Year
Professor
Sir Geoff Palmer
Outstanding Student of the Year
Sportsperson of the Year
Young Person of the Year
DSC01695

Amaechi Nsofor

Professional Senior Leader of the Year

DSC01668

Arnold Masayila

PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

DSC01678

Bradley Francis

Sportsperson of the Year

IMG_8527

Eunice Simpson

Outstanding Contribution to the Black Community

DSC01659

HR Hub Plus

Business of Excellence of the Year

DSC01688

Janet Londele

DIVERSITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

DSC01683

Laura Vaughan

ALLY OF THE YEAR

DSC01699

Muminah Koleoso

CREATIVE OF THE YEAR

DSC01692

Oluwakemi Odunsi-Ujagbe

Sustainability Champion of the Year Winner

DSC01709

Timiebi Oyinpere

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer Outstanding Student of The Year

IMG_8526

West Lothian African Women's Network

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR

DSC01671

Zibusiso Lujika Dube

Young Person of the Year

Meet Our 2026 Sponsors

Headline Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Rspb

Meet Our

2026 Judges

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer Outstanding Student of The Year Winner, TBSA 2025

Profile
Timiebi

Timiebi Oyinpere

Author, Hon. Professor and Lecturer at University of the West of Scotland

Profile
1700385486835

Ian Houston

Executive Director, British Basketball Federation

Profile
Kieron-Achara

Kieron Achara

Programme Director, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation

Profile
Susie Mitchell

Dr Susie Mitchell

Councillor, Westhill & District, Aberdeenshire

Profile
Cllr Fatima Joji

Cllr Fatima Joji

Prof. Sir Geoff Palmer Outstanding Student of the Year Awardee, TBSA 2024

Profile
Fatima-Ceesay-Lopez-350x370-1-1

Fatima Ceesay Lopez

Programme Director, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation

Profile
Susie Mitchell

Dr Susie Mitchell

Director at HR Hub Plus & Peridot Recruit

Profile
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 31 2023 Edward Obi who runs HR Hub Plus, and Aberdeen-based Human Resources consultancy. Edward has been recognised for his work in the Equality Diversion and Inclusion space, and he champions positive workplace culture. Photo by Ross Johnston/Newsline Media

Edward Obi

Creator/Founder, Jambo! Radio Scotland

Profile
George Tah

George Tah

Head of Communications, Sports Scotland

Profile
Kate Mccheyne

Kate McCheyne

Press for #TBSA

Celebrating Diversity and Excellence at the Black Scottish Awards 2024

Celebrating Diversity and Excellence at the Black Scottish Awards 2024

A Celebration of Excellence, Diversity, and Achievement Within the Black Community in Scotland

A Celebration of Excellence, Diversity, and Achievement Within the Black Community in Scotland

The Black Scottish Awards Unveils Finalists for 2023 Ceremony

The Black Scottish Awards Unveils Finalists for 2023 Ceremony

Awards launched to celebrate the Scottish Black community

Awards launched to celebrate the Scottish Black community

Finalists unveiled for first Black Scottish Awards in Edinburgh

Finalists unveiled for first Black Scottish Awards in Edinburgh

Moments from TBSA 2025

Our goal is to encourage a nomination process that is open, equitable, and user-friendly for all parties involved. While we appreciate and encourage multiple nominations across various categories, we kindly request that you nominate only qualified and deserving candidates, as our judging panel will carefully assess each submission.
Additionally, we kindly ask that you currently reside in Scotland and limit your nominations to candidates based in Scotland.

Award Categories

This award is open to non-Black individuals powering diversity for the benefit of Black people in Scotland. They need to demonstrate that they are advocates and have stood in the gap for Black people. The individual must be in employment and be doing this amazing work from within their employment.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

    Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

    Nominee's Employment Level

    A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

    How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

    Despite facing greater challenges in accessing funding compared to the general Scottish population, we are witnessing a rise in Black-owned businesses across the country. This award is open to Black-owned businesses currently operating in Scotland and aims to celebrate those that have demonstrated growth or strong potential for expansion.

    More than just business success, this award recognises organisations where employees consider it a great place to work and where the business has a positive social impact within its community.

    Additionally, this award is open to businesses founded by majorly or equally Black individuals who have operated since at least 2000. It seeks to honour businesses that are thriving and making meaningful contributions to their industry and society.

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Is the business you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

      Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

      How many employees does nominee have including directors/owners

      A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

      How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

      As the population of Black people continues to grow in Scotland, we are seeing a rise in community-centred organisation providing various bespoke support to their members. This award is open to any Black-owned community organisation whose sole purpose is to support Black people in Scotland. The award wants to recognise an organisation which is making significant impact in the community and which has shown continuous growth since inception.

      Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
      Is the organisation you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

        Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

        How many employees does nominee have including directors/owners?l

        A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

        How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

        This award is open to any Black individual who is in the creative space including music, arts, fashion, writing etc. The nominee would have achieved noteworthy success in the year in their field and be a role model to younger folks.

        Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
        Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

          Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)


          A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

          How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

          This award is open to any Black individual who is powering diversity for the benefit of Black people living in Scotland. They need to demonstrate that they are advocates and have looked beyond self to ensure Black people continue to get fair opportunities in Scotland. The individual must be in employment and be doing this amazing work from within their employment.

          Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
          Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

            Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

            Nominee's Employment Level

            A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

            How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

            There are thousands of Black students across Scottish universities and colleges with many of them achieving academic excellence. This award is open to individuals in their final year of higher education or who graduated after 2023. The award wants to recognise those who shine above all, those who have achieved academic excellence and also supported their peers and are a major value add to their universities/colleges.

            Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
            Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

              Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

              Nominee's School Year

              A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

              How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

              This award is open to any Black individual who is showing promise early on in their career. They would have achieved some successes which could include a promotion, setting up internal initiatives etc.

              Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
              Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

                Nominee's Employment Level

                A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                This award is open to any Black individual who has achieved significant success in their career. They would be a leader within their field and be in a senior role within their organisation.

                Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
                Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                  Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

                  Nominee's Employment Level

                  A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                  How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                  This award is open to any Black individual within the Black community who has demonstrated a strong track record of uplifting members of the community and acted to contribute to the development of the community. This could be in academics, business, politics, career, sports or any other relevant area. An example or examples of how the individual has demonstrated this will be required in the justification below.

                  Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
                  Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                    Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)


                    A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                    How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                    We are seeing an increase in the participation of Black people in sports across the country. This award is open to any Black sportsperson aged 16 or over. The award wants to recognise the sportsperson who has shown exceptionality or who shows future promise based on past and recent performance.

                    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
                    Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                      Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

                      Have they won any trophies in their sport?

                      A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                      How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                      This award is open to any Black individual who has demonstrated exceptional initiative and unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability practices. They should have made a significant and measurable impact within their organisation, community, or industry.

                      Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
                      Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                        Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

                        Nominee's Employment Level

                        A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                        How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                        This award is open to any young Black person who is between the ages of 11 and 17 years. They should demonstrate a commitment to contributing to society, supporting their peers, and acting as a role model for other young people.This award is open to any young person who is not currently enrolled in a university or at an equivalent educational level. They should demonstrate a commitment to contributing to society, supporting their peers, and acting as a role model for other young people.

                        Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
                        Is the person you are nominating primarily Scotland-based?

                          Nominee's Primary Location (City/Town)

                          Nominee's Academic Level

                          A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

                          How did you hear about The Black Scottish Awards?

                          Thank you for your interest in #TBSA2024.
                          The provided form indicates your interest to reach out for the following reasons.

                          • Interested in Tickets for Guests
                          • Interested in Support & Sponsorships
                          • Interested in General Enquiries

                            Chizulum Ifezulike

                            As a University of Strathclyde Economics student, Chizulum is on track for a 1st Class. Due to her commitment to academic excellence, she was recognised as one of the top economics students and recently won 1st place in the Adam Smith's National Student Book Cover Competition. She is using her influence and reach to empower her peers through various initiatives, and tapping into the power of social media to create engaging content to support the younger generations. Chizulum’s incredible story started with being born with hearing loss and dealing with speech impairments. Nevertheless, she has used these challenges as an inspiration and wants every young person out there to know that their situation should never define their destination.

                            LinkedIn

                            Samuel Agbede

                            Samuel says at the core of his advocacy is a desire to see Black people in Scotland access and maximize opportunities in technology. For this reason, he supports existing efforts while pathfinding new ways of engagement where opportunities for Black people are lacking. His advocacy has simply changed the numbers where he works, driving up Black hires significantly. Furthermore, he does a lot of work on retention and promotion including initiating periodic meet-ups at work, which serve as a forum for peer education on broader issues (e.g., sexism and unconscious bias). It ensures Black people have the social intelligence required to thrive in tech spaces. He is also the host of the podcast, ‘Stories That Shape Us’ which spotlights Black excellence.

                            LinkedIn

                            Lydia Balogun-Wilson

                            With over two decades in the energy industry and numerous leadership roles in both operations and engineering, Lydia is a true Leader. She has a passion for mentoring and promoting great talent, especially within the BAME community. Lydia has experienced much success in her career, like promotions and recognitions. She has led large teams including being the first Black female Engineering Manager in bp to lead an organisation of 244 multi-discipline engineers. Beyond career successes, she co-founded a foundation, with the primary purpose of improving the living conditions of vulnerable people including refugees, internally displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, widows and widowers, and the aged people living in our communities.

                            LinkedIn

                            Chinyanta

                            As a dance artist, Chinyanta was selected as a winner and was invited to film a TED Talk video titled as, “The dazzling diversity of African dance.” She has been commissioned for various projects by Jerwood New Work Fund and Creative Scotland to name a few. Coming from an Engineering background, Chinyanta faced lots of rejections early on in her artistic career. But due to her persistence, she eventually got a break and now creates her own shows, including the one we have enjoyed today. She was crowned Miss Africa Great Britain and was also the candidate to raise the highest amount of funding for charity since the pageant began. She has gone on to use the platform to support a women’s organisation in her home country called ‘Noah Mapalo’.

                            LinkedIn

                            Mukami McCrum MBE

                            She was born and raised in Kenya and has lived most of her life in Scotland. She moved to Scotland in the 70s. She is a proud mother and grandmother whose roots and heritage define her identity.
                            She is a social scientist, teacher and community education and youth development worker. Her career reflects her deep passion for education as a tool for liberation and for resisting and overcoming social, economic and political oppression. She finds social history fascinating and highly values ancient knowledge, beliefs and ways of life of the African people and the spirituality of Indigenous Peoples of the world.
                            Being very shy, what comes naturally to her in a crisis is to be reflective and contemplative and avoid jumping into quick or rapid decisions or solutions. But this has not deterred her from actively participating in campaigns for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and exclusion particularly in the field of race, gender, social class, migration and indigenous peoples’ rights.
                            Her journey has not been without its challenges and she describes the biggest challenge of her life as raising children in a different country with a different culture and system, without the support of her birth family and friends who were very far away.
                            She also had to deal with the loss of her professional status and confront racism, sexism and alienation. In the face of such adversity, she has prevailed due to her resilience, resourcefulness and sheer determination.
                            Here are some of her Achievements which I gathered during my research:

                            • For over 30 years, Mukami has developed and implemented policies to promote gender equality and advocate for women’s rights at the local, national, and international levels.
                            • She has championed women’s rights and equality by initiating discussions to challenge negative attitudes and male violence toward women and girls in Kenya, engaging in national and international campaigns against gender-based violence, and serving on key advisory groups in Scotland and the UK.
                            • She has developed international links and experiences through her engagement with international NGOs, involvement in grant assessment and peace support organisations, and active participation in international conferences and summits.
                            • She is not just a leader; she is a visionary leader and has worked with government officials, members of parliament, and international organisations serving on advisory forums, committees and panels. Her impact can be seen in every project, policy, and partnership she’s been a part of.
                            Profile

                            Dr Adaeze Ifezulike

                            Dr Adaeze is a Lifestyle Medicine professional. After a personal tragedy, which was the loss of her grandfather to complications of diabetes, she made a solemn vow to ensure that no one else would have to endure what he went through. For nearly two decades, Dr Adaeze has demonstrated a significant commitment to improving the health of the Black community in Scotland through the following ways: - Tackling high abortion rates in Black Communities [AND] - Powering mental, emotional and physical health projects

                            LinkedIn

                            Jambo! Radio Scotland

                            Jambo Radio Scotland has become the place to tune in to over the last few years, delivering original content for the Black population of Scotland. From talk shows to music, education to debates, they have become a part of our everyday lives. They were very active in disseminating information during covid and thereby saving lives. In less than 2 years they have grown and created numerous employment opportunities. They have supported many young people to return to formal education. They just concluded a six-week holiday Youth Broadcasting Training for kids aged 10+ to empower the voices of young people and build their communication confidence.

                            LinkedIn

                            Doqaru Limited

                            Doqaru is Scotland's top sales enablement consultancy and thanks to significant growth from 2020 to 2022, Doqaru expect revenues to double by the end of 2023. Founded by Dr Yekemi Otaru and Sarah Downs, their efforts have been recognised with several milestones and awards, including Great British Entrepreneur Awards and the Scottish Women's Awards. Doqaru's commitment to social impact is evident through the many initiatives they support including sponsoring the UK energy events and supporting the Gathimba Edwards Foundation for Kenyan children.

                            LinkedIn

                            Panashe Muzambe

                            After never seeing anyone who looked like her play women's rugby in Scotland, Panashe overcame that lack of representation by being someone others could look up to, thereby becoming the first Black player for the national team. She won the Allianz Cup with Exeter Chiefs in her first season with the club. She sat on the young people's sports panel in Scotland, where she was able to become the voice of young people in important rooms and conversations. She is also the head coach of Sidmouth Ladies in Devon and is building her career to propel her into Rugby management after playing. Thus, Panashe is inspiring others that they too cannot only play Rugby but can progress and change what the coaching environment looks like.

                            Profile

                            Carol Anderson

                            After being a group mentor for TSB’s Ignite Programme, which focused on supporting Black and Black mixed heritage colleagues with their personal, professional and career development, Carol was hugely impacted by the experience. This led to her creating an environment and movement concentrating on becoming an intentional ally.

                            Some of her achievements include:

                            • Instigating a succession focus group purely centred on Black talent. It provided Black colleagues the best possible conditions to make sure they are represented as serious contenders with sponsorship on hiring lists [AND]
                            • Training for line managers at all levels in relation to DE&I with a particular spotlight on Black colleagues and their experiences
                            LinkedIn

                            Oluwafunbi Karunwi

                            Oluwafunbi is one of a handful of Black people in the legal profession within Scotland. She was once told by her teachers that she would never become a lawyer. She proved her teacher wrong! She went on to gain a legal internship and was the only intern to secure a two-year trainee solicitor contract immediately after the internship. She is now partway through her traineeship, and we look forward to celebrating with her upon completion. She is an Inclusion and Diversity champion at work, where her role is to research and network with universities, companies and organisations, and find opportunities of collaboration. She has been featured in the Law Society Scotland Journal. She received recognition and a Bravo award for her involvement in a Career ready program. This program seeks to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their confidence and skills.

                            LinkedIn

                            Thank you for your interest in becoming a sponsor of #TBSA2025.
                            Please fill and submit the form provided.

                              Thank you for your interest in becoming a sponsor of #TBSA2026. Please fill and submit the form provided.

                                Meet the 2025 Awardees

                                DSC01695

                                Amaechi Nsofor

                                Professional Senior Leader of the Year

                                DSC01668

                                Arnold Masayila

                                PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

                                DSC01678

                                Bradley Francis

                                Sportsperson of the Year

                                IMG_8527

                                Eunice Simpson

                                Outstanding Contribution to the Black Community

                                DSC01659

                                HR Hub Plus

                                Business of Excellence of the Year

                                DSC01688

                                Janet Londele

                                DIVERSITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

                                DSC01683

                                Laura Vaughan

                                ALLY OF THE YEAR

                                DSC01699

                                Muminah Koleoso

                                CREATIVE OF THE YEAR

                                DSC01692

                                Oluwakemi Odunsi-Ujagbe

                                Sustainability Champion of the Year Winner

                                DSC01709

                                Timiebi Oyinpere

                                Professor Sir Geoff Palmer Outstanding Student of The Year

                                IMG_8526

                                West Lothian African Women's Network

                                COMMUNITY ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR

                                DSC01671

                                Zibusiso Lujika Dube

                                Young Person of the Year