UKBT Mission & Vision
Solving the world’s biggest problems through representation. Greater representation leads to better innovation, which produces global transformation for a fast-changing world.
About UKBlackTech
The world we live in faces ever-changing societal, environmental and economic challenges, which are felt regionally, nationally and also globally. UKBlackTech supports, promotes, represents and encourages the continued growth of diverse innovators and tech innovation across the UK. We work with institutions, industry, local businesses and communities to solve these challenges. To build a great tech eco-system we need to see equity, transparency and representation at the cutting edge of tech.
Our Institute
We believe the UKBT Institute will spark new discoveries, innovations, creativity, and ideas, offering significant value to the UK. As a tech organisation, we understood the need to engage more stakeholders beyond just tech professionals. That’s why the UKBT Institute will be a townhouse for technologists, academics, professionals, and communities.
History & Milestones
2026
- Black History Month activities/newsletters.
- Ongoing DAZ, partnerships, and advocacy.
- Meetup continues as key platform for hybrid events on innovation, health, and community building.
2025
- Strong emphasis on women’s/girls’ health tech (e.g., FemTech/digital health events, “From Insight to Impact: Women’s Health Design Jam” in Leeds).
- “UK Black Women in Tech: Rewriting The Rules” (e.g., Spotify session planned/held).
- Music x Tech events (e.g., “FUTURE OF MUSIC IN TECHNOLOGY” June 9, Bradford University; panels, demos).
- Grow Music program partnerships (BPI/others for music-tech grads).
- Green tech discussions; SXSW opportunities; Peckham DAZ graduate showcases/new cohorts.
- Newsletters and multiple Meetup-hosted events (part of 44+ past total).
2024
- Overcame sponsor losses; continued Peckham DAZ bootcamps (web dev, data science, AI for young Black/ethnic minority talents).
- Attended Bloomberg Tech London; reviews on London Tech Week, AI potential.
- Health awareness (e.g., prostate cancer); regional insights articles.
- Meetup events supported DAZ cohorts, workshops, and showcases.
2023
- Grew in Hull, Yorkshire, Birmingham/Manchester.
- AI ethics, medical biases, course opportunities.
- Hosted “The Innovation Showcase: Tech Transformation” (May 2023) focusing on representation and innovation.
- More Meetup events on creative culture, partnerships, and talent pipelines.
2022
- Noted increases in women in computing and UK tech rankings.
- Highlighted digital inequalities, Black business pitches, AI creativity.
- Hosted online events like Charities & Digital Professionals session (with Third Sector Lab, Citizens Advice).
- Promoted Software Engineering Meetups in London.
- Shared smart cities report launch via Meetup (online presentation on findings/recommendations).
- Regional outreach (e.g., Hull/East Yorks Software Developers Meetup promotion).
2021
- Launched diverse innovation course with UAL on FutureLearn.
- Explored NFTs, Metaverse, Crypto, eSports, MusicTech, SportsTech.
- Began more active Meetup promotion (e.g., social event calls).
- 2021 review highlighted progress in representation and creative tech.
2020
- Borough support (Lambeth, Lewisham, etc.) for digital upskilling.
- COVID tech solutions with Microsoft/PwC.
- Advocacy on biases (e.g., pulse oximeters, algorithms, vaccine access).
- Meetup promotions limited; focus on online/virtual amid pandemic.
2019
- Profiled 10 Black inventors with AFBE-UK.
- Hosted Sickle Cell Hackathon at The Design Museum (doctors, data scientists, patients, developers).
- Created 15 digital courses via partnerships (FutureLearn, Tech Mums, Leeds University).
- Won London Business Awards.
- Year-end thanks to partners; emphasized Black innovation. Co-founder Mark Martin awarded MBE for education, tech, and diversity.
2018
- Partnered with PwC for community support and events.
- Won Diversity Champions Award.
- Shared content on BAME pay gaps, D&I alignment, biases, and opportunities (e.g., hackathons).
- Early community building; Meetup group existed but events were emerging slowly.
2017
- Launched at Bloomberg London.
- Released 50 free diverse stock photos for industry use to boost representation (#FacesLikeMe campaign).
- Limited Meetup activity in year 1; focus was on building community and visibility via X and partnerships. Festive year-end review emphasized diversity advocacy.
The 100 Year Plan
UKBT is an organisation managed by specialised professionals, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation, tech and digital skills. To enable these goals to be met, UKBT stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technical insights amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the creation and growth of tech companies & tech talent through events and spin-off initiatives; and provides other value-added services to the sector.
What’s Next
Talent
Support homegrown talent to navigate, access and open opportunities within the industry.
Innovation
Produce 3 white papers and recommendations for tech sector by 2030
Community
Support tech specialist and entrepreneurial minded people/businesses to learn from each other through our Knowledge Innovation Transfer Network (KTIN).
Our Impact
10
Years
We have been supporting the UK tech eco-system from over a decade.
50+
Events
We have hosted countless tech and innovaiton events around the the UK.
20,000
Professionals
Across all our platform we have supported 20,000 professionals
1
Ditigal Accelerator
In colloboration with UAL and Southwark Council we founded Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone.
1
Million
We created a stock photo project which has been downloaded and view in the millions.
1
Research Paper
We produced our own research paper on smart cities.