Joanne Anderson, Director of Innervision, BlaST Founder and Executive Director
The Black Social Traders Network (BlaST) is a pioneering initiative founded by Joanne Anderson to support and amplify Black-led socially trading organisations (STOs) in the Liverpool City Region.
BlaST equips its members with essential skills, offering tailored support in areas such as growth planning, securing contracts, accessing investment, and fostering collaborative working.
BlaST targets start-up and early-stage socially-trading organisations and those transitioning from grant to viability, providing a pipeline of investment-ready ventures with a track record of growth, borrowing and repayment.
BlaST is supported by Kindred, a Liverpool City Region Social Investment Fund. 25% of Kindred investments are made to BlaST members.
As Director of Innervision, and with support from The Pathway Fund’s First-Time Fund Manager Incubator Programme, Joanne aims to secure £12.5 million to drive the growth of Black-led socially trading organisations in the region.
Ibe, Cycle of Life BlaST Member