A regional publisher has launched a group-wide bid to champion black business owners on its titles’ patches.

Reach plc is aiming to highlight the importance of black-owned companies to the UK’s economy with the #IAMBOB campaign.

Black-owned businesses are being urged to come forward and share their stories with their local Reach title by using the hashtag #IAMBOB on social media.

The campaign, run with Reach’s national Business Live website, has been launched ahead of Black Pound Day, an initiative launched earlier this year by musician DJ Swiss, this coming Saturday.

An explainer on the Birmingham Live website states: “In response to the death of George Floyd and the global Black Lives Matter protests, his idea hopes to underpin long-term financial growth and empower black communities.

“Black Pound Day encourages everyone in the UK to spend locally or online with UK black-owned businesses once a month.

“To tell the story of your business, email our national business team at [email protected] with the following information: name of your company, where you are based, the number of employees, the year it was founded and a short explainer on what your company does.”

Regional publisher Archant has also launched a group-wide campaign to support businesses.

The Shop Local appeal is described as a “use-it-or-lose-it plea to shoppers to consider independent traders and businesses this Christmas and beyond”.