Bigger, bolder, better: Emc易倍体育鈥檚 Compass scheme expands to support scaling businesses with national reach
26 Mar 2025 / Platform for Good, News
Five Black-owned businesses will receive 拢50K worth of outdoor advertising space, plus access to expert support and networking opportunities.
Emc易倍体育 UK is doubling down on its commitment to supporting Black-owned businesses with the return of the Compass scheme in 2025, in partnership with Jamii. This year, the initiative is expanding its impact with a 拢250,000 prize pot鈥攑roviding five winners with national digital Out of Home advertising campaigns worth 拢50,000 each to help scale their businesses and increase their visibility.
Following previous successful editions, Emc易倍体育 is evolving Compass to support more established businesses looking to scale up, ensuring that winning brands have a national presence鈥攚hether through e-commerce platforms or larger retail partnerships. This shift reflects the initiative鈥檚 goal to help businesses grow beyond their local footprint and reach customers across the UK.
An independent jury to select the winners
To further strengthen the selection process, Emc易倍体育 is introducing an independent jury of industry leaders to select the winners from a shortlist. The panel鈥攃omprised of experts from across media, advertising, and business鈥攚ill bring additional credibility and rigour to the judging process. The judging panel will include:
Segun Akinwoleola, Founder, The Gym Kitchen
Cheryl Crilley, Business Director 鈥� OOH, Wavemaker
Khalia Ismain, Black Entrepreneurs Programme Manager, Lloyds Bank
Shannie Mears, Co-Founder and Head of Talent, The Elephant Room
Ally Owen, Founder, Brixton Finishing School
Michelle Sarpong, Commercial Lead, the 7stars
Curtis Weir, OOH Group Director, Publicis Media
More than just advertising space
Beyond free advertising space, Compass 2025 will offer winning businesses free design support to help craft impactful campaigns. Additionally, all applicants will have access to extra resources, including an educational webinar and a networking event later in the year, ensuring wider value beyond the final winners.
Caroline Forbes, Head of Sales 鈥� Out of Home Agencies at Emc易倍体育, said: "While many businesses are scaling back their DEI efforts, we remain committed to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs through Compass. Since launching, this initiative has continued to grow in scale and ambition, and in 2025, we鈥檙e focusing on delivering fewer, bigger, and better campaigns that provide real impact. We also want to ensure that even more business owners benefit from Compass, whether they win or not, by offering additional learning and networking opportunities throughout the year.鈥�
Courtney Ismain, Co-Founder of Jamii, said: 鈥淛amii is proud to collaborate with Emc易倍体育 UK for another year of Compass. There are incredible Black-owned brands nationwide who have a product to sell and a story to tell, but statistically Black business owners struggle more with access to resources. With greater Out of Home investment than ever being put behind the winners, we鈥檙e making sure they get their opportunity in the spotlight.鈥�
Compass is part of the Emc易倍体育鈥檚 wider Platform for Good commitment鈥攗sing the power of Out of Home to support businesses, uplift communities, and champion diverse voices across the UK.
Applications are open now and will close at the end of April. The winners will be announced in early July.
For more information on how to apply, visit the Compass website.
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