Published: Thursday, 21st February, 2008 9:00am

Support group is changing with the times

Members and guests: Back - Ronnie Epstein, Marcin Jezewski, Rafiq Chohan; front - Ganesh Selvarajah, Shemila Tharani, from Business Link, Rajinder Sophal and Hermat Amin.
Pic by: Kevin Poolman

AN advisory and support group for ethnic businesses has reinvented itself to adapt to Berkshire's rapidly changing business environment.

EMBAG (Ethnic Minorities Business Forum) was set up in 2004 to improve the take-up of Business Link services by ethnic enterprises.

But in 2008, EMBAG has already witnessed a rapidly changing business landscape including eastern European immigration, and has beefed up its operation to keep pace.

Its team has been expanded and the aim now is to become an essential element among minority businesses, rather than just offer advice. A formal relaunch took place at the Sardar Palace in Reading to mark its new approach.

Head of economic and business development at Business Link Ganesh Selvarajah said today's more ethnic business community faced more diverse issues than ever.

"We want to refresh our approach and our image," he said.

Mr Selvarajah said typical help could be showing firms where grants are available, helping start ups with business plans, succession planning, exit strategies, helping find finance and helping micro businesses grow.

The help extends to those with up to 250 employees.

He added: "What we are looking to do with the group is really use the individuals we have to help people gain from us."

Those experts include:

* Mr Selvarajah

* Ronnie Epstein - director, Business Link

* Hemant Amin - partner and head of practice development at Charles Lucas & Marshall

* Marcin Jezewski - chairman of Ecce Homo Polish Diversity Association

* Rafiq Chohan - head of economic development, Slough Borough Council

* Rajinder Sohpal - Reading Council for Racial Equality (RCRE)

* Nidhi Dalmia - managing director, Dalmia Media

* Jean Richardson - chair, Afro Caribbean Enterprise Forum (ACEF).

Even those who did not speak English, said Mr Selvarajah, were able to run successful businesses. Fellow EMBAG member Marcin Jezewski had arrived from Poland two years ago and now runs his own construction business Partmar Construction Ltd.

He had to find out the necessary information about running a businesss himself. Now he wants to make that task easier for others.

Mr Selvarajah said: "One thing I come across is the real determination among business people. Once you understand the determination, then the language doesn't matter."

Contact Mr Selvarajah on 01753 610006