To mark Black History Month, the Prime Minister has paid tribute to the enormous contribution that black British people have made, and continue to make, in shaping our nation’s story. For countless generations, people of African and Caribbean descent have been shaping the story of our nation, making a significant contribution to our society, and helping make Britain a better place to live.
Ensuring that Every Person can Succeed
This Black History Month, we are celebrating the lives of black public servants who helped make the UK what it is. From the servicemen who fought for, and with Britain, to defend democracy to the thousands of black nurses who came to the UK to staff the fledging NHS, we want to pay tribute to, and thank, the figures from our past whose incredible contributions are sadly not always recognised. Black British history is all our history, and if we all learn from it, we will build a better future for us all.
Since the Conservative Government came into office in 2010, the number of black students in England educated at state schools aged 18 years securing a higher education place has increased from 28.4% to 44.5% in 2019; while the number of black students applying for university placements this year increased by 4.2% compared to same point in 2019.
In the past decade, the number of people from BAME backgrounds who have participated in apprenticeships has increased from 6.7 % in 2008-09 to 11.1% in 2017-18, while the number of Black apprentices has tripled, rising from 7,840 to 29,000 in the same period.
Since we launched our Start Up Loans Scheme in 2012, 20% of loan recipients have come from BAME backgrounds, with 10% delivered aspiring black businesses owners. We want to see more entrepreneurs – especially women and those from BAME backgrounds, which is why we will continue with the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Enterprise Investment Scheme, and further explore who we can better support the self-employed.
Tackling Racial Inequality - still work to be done
Our Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities will examine racial and ethnic inequalities in Britain, including in education, in health and in the criminal justice system. Building on the work of our Race Disparity Unit, this commission is another part of our continued commitment to address racial inequality.
The Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch, will be responsible for the commission, chaired by Dr Tony Sewell and is comprised of esteemed representatives from the fields of science, education, broadcasting, economics, medicine, policing, and community organising. The Commission will provide evidence-based recommendations for action across Government, public bodies, and the private sector, and in doing so, improve the national conversation on race.
On 22 June 2020, we marked Windrush Day by establishing a cross-government working group to address the challenges faced by the Windrush generation and their descendants, and those that disproportionately affect people from BAME backgrounds more widely. We are also accepting in full the recommendations made in the Wendy Williams Lessons Learned Review, as part of our efforts to deliver meaningful change and ensure such injustices will not happen again.