In 2020 my wife, cousin and I started our not for profit social enterprise – Forbes Family Group (FFG).

We realised that throughout our careers we had been incredibly fortunate to be supported by some amazing people, build some incredible connections, and learn some valuable lessons. We wanted to find a way to share all of that in a programmatic way with those earlier in their career journeys. We realised how upwardly mobile we had become for all of those exposures, and knew that others would benefit in the same way we did, if we were able to find smart ways of sharing this ‘wealth’.

So we created FFG to support those from under represented communities on their social mobility and professional journey, whether entrepreneur or corporate professional. On a day to day basis FFG has been led by Davina Williamson and and Danielle Forbes.

Through many different iterations we settled on delivering FFGs work through 3 streams which we came to refer to as the 3 C’s – Capital (investment and funding for early stage businesses), Connections (Programs to build meaningful professional contacts and expand your network) and Community (charitable initiatives to help and support those from similar backgrounds to ours). Over the last 5 years we have invested in 12 small businesses, over 5,000 young people have come through one of our programs, and we have raised /donated close to £2m for charitable causes.

Now FFG has the brand and platform to kick on to the next level, and to do that a number of organisational changes are necessary.Having served as Chairman since the start it is time for me to step down and make way for someone who can focus and dedicate the necessary time for the next chapter. That person is my wife Danielle Forbes who has been Co-CEO up until now has the bandwidth and passion to continue the work that has been started as Chairperson.

As Danielle steps up and out of her Co Ceo role it makes space for the brilliant Ann-Marie Hackett to step up and in as Co CEO of FFG alongside Davina Williamson who will continue to serve a Co-CEO. Ann Marie has been a brilliant member of our team starting out as our Ops Director and more recently as Chief of Staff to me and Danielle. Davina will focus (mainly) on the Community side of our activity as well as siting on the FFG Board, Ann Marie will focus on Capital and Connection as well as lead on coordinating across all workstreams and initiatives.

With these changes we are also strengthening our board and Aisha Walters, a brilliant entrepreneur and founder (Benchmark) will take a board seat.I’m really proud of the work that we have done, the partnerships that we have built and support that we have received. Whilst I will be less active FFG is something that Im very proud of and I cant wait to play my new part in its next chapter. Good luck to all of those taking on new roles, Ann Marie will shortly communicate on more operational level changes as the team gear up for this next phase.