Black Professionals UK (BPU) marked a significant milestone in its journey of empowering Black talent across the UK with our very first event outside Scotland – Steps to Success: A Professional Development and Networking Experience in Manchester.
Held in the heart of Manchester, the event brought together ambitious professionals, passionate speakers, and a supportive community eager to grow, connect, and succeed. The event’s theme, “Steps to Success,” captured the spirit of the day perfectly, focusing on career development, practical guidance and the power of community.
From insightful presentations to dynamic workshops and engaging networking opportunities, the event was filled with moments that sparked new perspectives and practical strategies for career growth. One of the standout sessions was the CV-building and interview skills workshop, which gave participants actionable tools to enhance their job applications and personal branding.
Another highlight was the inspiring career journey shared by a BPU Ambassador, who walked attendees through the highs and hurdles of building a successful career in a competitive industry—offering hope, clarity and real-world advice to many in the room.
Attendees also gained exposure to various departments within the financial and tech sectors, learning about areas such as risk management, regulatory change, FX operations, data governance and agile delivery. These deep-dives offered both aspiring and mid-career professionals a broader understanding of the roles available and how to strategically position themselves for success.
Importantly, the event also highlighted finance-specific insights in Manchester, shedding light on the operations of audit, compliance, treasury and change management teams that keep the financial engine running.
Would we recommend this event to others? Absolutely.
Whether you’re looking to refine your CV, master interviews, learn about emerging career paths in tech and finance, or expand your professional network, Steps to Success is the kind of event that delivers.
This Manchester event represents just the beginning of BPU’s national expansion, taking our mission to empower Black professionals across every corner of the UK. And if the energy and impact of this gathering are anything to go by, we’re just getting started.
Here’s to more milestones. More success. And more steps forward.