Leading Jamaica rum brand Wray & Nephew, in partnership with Foundervine, has launched this year’s ‘Wray Forward Powerbook’; a list that spotlights 25 Black and Mixed-Black business owners transforming the norms of enterprise in the UK.

With this as its second annual edition, The Wray Forward Powerbook was created both to celebrate and highlight the incredible achievements of the individuals behind UK Black Businesses – and to inspire the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. Curated by a panel of seven independent judges who measured each Wray Forward member’s growth against a growth-focused criteria, the list covers a diverse range of sectors, backgrounds, business sizes, and operational locations.

Underscoring the remarkable achievements each winner has accomplished, each business featured in the Wray Forward Powerbook has been chosen for showcasing impressive growth, including revenue, headcount and fundraising. The accolade underscores each winner’s remarkable achievements and tenacity in a space that is traditionally more difficult for Black entrepreneurs to succeed in.

The launch comes as research commissioned by Wray & Nephew* reveals over four-fifths (81%) of Black business owners found it challenging to raise funding to start their business*, in comparison to just over one-half (56%) of their white counterparts*. Over three-quarters (79%) of Black business owners feel unsupported by the wider business community, in comparison to just 41% of their white counterparts.

The figures also reveal that over half (54%) of Black business owners believe the lack of resources is impacting their business, with 59% admitting to struggling due to the lack of investment. Other issues Black entrepreneurs currently face include a lack of knowledge (56%) and confidence (53%) to take their business to the next level*.

The winners of the Wray Forward Powerbook 2025 are:

The Powerbook is an extension of the Wray Forward programme, an initiative that supports Black founders across the UK by providing access to funding, educational workshops, mentorship opportunities and networking events. The programme has supported over 3,800 entrepreneurs across 24 industries over the past three years, and continues to provide practical and financial opportunities to Black business owners across the country. 

With Wray & Nephew marking the fourth year of its Wray Forward programme with Foundervine, further results show that three-quarters (79%) of Black founders believe they would have succeeded sooner if they had access to mentorship initiatives, such as the Wray Forward programme, to help support their business journey.

Cecil Adjalo, Co-Founder and COO at Foundervine said: “Wray Forward is about more than funding and mentorship – it’s about rewriting the story of who gets to lead, build, and thrive in business. At Foundervine, we have built a 20,000+ strong community that has supported over 500 businesses to start, scale and raise capital. 

“We’re proud to work alongside Wray & Nephew to create real pathways for Black entrepreneurs to succeed. In this fourth year of this partnership, our mission remains clear: dismantle the barriers, amplify the brilliance, and build a future where opportunity is truly equitable.”

In addition to the free-to-access expert-led workshops, the Wray Forward programme features other elements to support Black business owners, including:

• Roundtable: An in-depth roundtable discussion covering a range of challenges in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating actionable solutions to be shared with a wider audience. 

• Networking Events: Gatherings where entrepreneurs can come together to connect, showcase their businesses and network with industry professionals. 

• Pitch Nights: Six remarkable founders are selected within three sessions and have the opportunity to pitch their inspiring ideas and growing businesses. Nine selected winners will have the chance to secure a prize of £3,000, £1,500, or £500. 

To find out more about the Wray Forward programme and how you can get involved, visit https://www.wrayandnephew.com/wray-forward