Black History Month at Moneycorp

MEET GIDEON

MEET AFORJI

MEET PERPETUA

MEET LOVETTA

MEET LEON

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SEE MORE ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH

"The world has also become a global village, and the history of the Black race must continue to be brought to the forefront. I would love to one day see that people are not judged or prejudiced for the colour of their skin and that Black people can escape the negative stereotypes that have been placed on them over the years."

Finance Systems Manager

Perpetua Amoo

Perpetua has held various positions over her 11 years at Moneycorp. She has recently played an integral role in the launch of Monecorp's Women's Mentoring Programme and is one of the initiatives first mentors. "My passions are travel, shopping and sports amongst others which sets me apart from your standard accountant. I am of African descent, and although I was born here, I am deeply rooted in African culture. This is something I have maintained in the upbringing of my daughter, as I believe it’s important to know your history and culture. I have experienced incidences of racism throughout my working career and in the most extreme case I took my boss [at a previous role] to industrial tribunal for racism. My complaint was upheld and I subsequently left that role. I’m very happy to say that throughout my long tenure at Moneycorp, I’ve never experienced any form of racism. This is one of the main reasons I have had longevity in the company."

Leon joined Moneycorp in 2018 bringing with him a wealth of experience in FX and payments experience having worked for the likes of American Express and Equals plc. Directing a team of established dealers, Leon ensures Moneycorp’s long-standing corporate clients are nurtured through any FX market changes. He continues to train and upskill his team to represent Moneycorp’s true values and maximise revenue.

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Each October, Black History Month is celebrated across the UK to honour the rich history and legacy of African and Caribbean communities that have helped to shape society. Moneycorp is a multinational organisation and we’re proud to have a diverse workforce and network. To celebrate Black History Month, we're shining a light on some of our amazing colleagues and getting their take on what Black History Month means to them.

"From African traditions to the African diaspora, Black culture is a tapestry of resilience, creativity, and community."

Celebrating Black History Month

OCTOBER 2023

Leon Joseph

Dealing Manager

Leon, what does Black History month mean to you?

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Each October, Black History Month is celebrated across the UK to honour the rich history and legacy of African and Caribbean communities that have helped to shape society. Moneycorp is a multinational organisation and we’re proud to have a diverse workforce and network. To celebrate Black History Month, we're shining a light on some of our amazing employees and getting their take on what Black History Month means to them.

Black History Month, for me, is a time dedicated to the acknowledgement, recognition and celebration of those of Black heritage. It's a time of reflection of service and sacrifice over the years. It is a time when we do not solely focus on the existing systemic racism but also reflect on how far we have come.

Perpetua, what does Black History Month mean to you?

For me, Black History Month is an opportunity to educate people on a topic they wouldn't ordinarily pay attention to. Since the incident with George Floyd, people have become a lot more aware of the struggles faced by ethnic minorities. I think it's important to keep the momentum going and Black History Month is an opportunity to reinforce lessons learnt. It is a time to ensure that the achievements and values of the Black race are celebrated, and ensure that the next generation is given the same opportunities as their counterparts from different races. The world has also become a global village, and the history of the Black race must continue to be brought to the forefront. I would love to one day see that people are not judged or prejudiced for the colour of their skin and that Black people can escape the negative stereotypes that have been placed on them over the years.

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To be compassionate beyond just lip service and the inability to understand the larger systemic ways racism operates. Businesses can go beyond just supporting their employees in the office and show support for incidents that may occur outside the office. I would also like to see the creation of a safe environment where colleagues can share their experiences and exchange advice and support.

What action should businesses be taking to ensure they support their Black employees?

Allyship is a powerful thing, but as a starting point, one must first be aware that an imbalance exists. Once that happens, it allows my fellow colleagues, managers, and friends to step up and elevate those who are at a disadvantage purely due to being from a marginalised community. The aspiration to improve, actively promote and advance a culture of inclusion is how we'll move things forward. What Moneycorp is doing for BHM this year is a stepping stone in making this a conscious effort and becoming a true reality.

What does good allyship look like in the workplace?

We need to be aware of unconscious bias and actively tackle it with specific training. We need to focus on building an ethnically diverse workforce and increase Black representation across all levels of businesses.

What action should businesses be taking to ensure they support their Black employees?

Black History Month, to me, is a time to celebrate and honour the achievements, contributions, and resilience of Black individuals throughout history. It's a chance to highlight their stories, acknowledge their impact, and recognise the ongoing fight for racial justice. It's an opportunity for education, reflection, and appreciation of the Black community's rich cultural heritage and accomplishments.

Lovetta, what does Black History month mean to you?

Businesses should prioritise diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices, provide equal opportunities for growth and advancement, and ensure fair and unbiased treatment. It's important to create a safe space for open dialogue, implement anti-racist training, and establish mentorship programmes. Additionally, businesses should actively listen to the concerns and experiences of their Black employees and take concrete steps to address systemic racism within the organisation, working together to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace for everyone.

What action should businesses be taking to ensure they support their Black employees?

Good allyship in the workplace is all about being there for your colleagues who face marginalisation. It means using your privilege to support and uplift their voices. It involves actively listening to their experiences, validating their feelings, and taking action to address any biases or discrimination you witness. It's about being a true advocate and ally, standing up for what's right, and working together to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

What does good allyship look like in the workplace?

Lovetta Durodola

Finance Apprentice

Lovetta joined Moneycorp this year as part of our apprenticeship programme. Working alongside our Finance team, Lovetta focuses on finance regulation. "As a Nigerian my culture's music genres of jazz, hip-hop, and reggae, as well as art, literature, fashion and cuisine have made significant contributions to global culture. From African traditions to the African diaspora, Black culture is a tapestry of resilience, creativity, and community. My aspiration is to be successful in whatever I’m doing but most importantly being genuinely happy doing so."

Senior Account Executive

Aforji Chujor

For me, it’s got its positives and negatives. The positive is that it tends to be a chance for people to learn more about many achievements of Black people and for people to understand there’s more than just slavery and Martin Luther King! It’s also a reminder that it shouldn’t be needed, and the history that we learn in schools should reflect all culture's experiences.

Aforji, what does Black History Month mean to you?

Good allyship in the workplace, for me, is as simple as treating everyone with the same respect and judging without any prejudices.

What does good allyship look like in the workplace?

IT Service Apprentice

Gideon Kotey

There is beauty behind every race. Black or white, blue, or pink, male or female, big or small, if we all come together, we can achieve greatness. Unity is a strength, not a weakness. That is the message I get from Black History Month.

Gideon, what does Black History Month mean to you?

Wear a smile. It is one of the most amazing and contagious acts. We should celebrate others' achievements, try our best, not aim to do subpar work and have compassion for people's situations.

What does allyship look like in the workplace?

Support black entrepreneurs with

Jamii is a marketplace for British brands who are on the up. They support independent Black-owned businesses. From beauty products to stationary, the Jamii team hand picks all of the products available on their site and work with their creators to bring their visions to life.

"My team is at the heart of resolving technical issues that arise within the business – we troubleshoot a lot of issues across the company, from access to app installations and licensing."

"I am someone who stands strong in my faith. It is deeply embedded in who I am today. The Bible has taught me more things than I can count. I actively attend church multiple times a week, and if it wasn't for my faith, I do not know where I would be today. It's given me hope so many times when I couldn't see the light - even for my Moneycorp interview. It also keeps me aligned with my morals and the standards I always want to walk by."

Businesses should invest in creating networks to help others feel more included in the organisation. These networks could be used to organise a variety of social events and gatherings that would allow people to build rapport with other colleagues and also network with colleagues, driving a culture of inclusivity.

What action should businesses be taking to ensure they support their Black employees?

"Good allyship involves actively listening to their experiences, validating their feelings, and taking action to address any biases or discrimination you witness."

Care Free Black Girls Zeba Blay

Biracial Britain Remi Adekoya

Staying Power Peter Fryer

Aforji has been an integral part of the sales team at Moneycorp since early 2022. "My parents are from Nigeria and my wife’s parents are from Ghana. Growing up I enjoyed my mum’s Nigerian food, pounded yam and Okoro soup were favourites! "I aspire to be a good Christian husband and father and I play an active role in my church's worship team, Guest Lounge. I want to continue excelling at Moneycorp to complete more qualifications and take on more responsibilities."

The last time the Office of National Statistics released data on the ethnicity pay gap in 2019, there was a more than 20% gap between white and ethnic minority groups in London. Organisations need to be aware of this and ensure pay is fair in line with colleagues across all levels of the business. They also need to encourage more diversity by offering training to help people recognise unconscious biases – particularly for hiring managers - and offer support that is accessible to all employees equally.

What action should businesses be taking to ensure they support their Black employees?

African American History or Black History Month. Celebrated annually in February in the USA and Canada

Unfortunately the industry that is financial services probably has the characteristics which least embraces multiculturalism, that’s why coming to Moneycorp was a pleasant surprise. I think it’s important that there is balance between the needs of the individual and the needs of a business. The fact that ethnic minorities face a different kind of struggle on top of the day-to-day struggles we all know. It is important to acknowledge the fact that racism actually exists because without this acknowledgement nothing will be done. Currently Moneycorp as a company has just one board member representing the ethnic ‘minority’. I believe the company will be more inclusive to look into seeking non-executive representation from a more diverse pool. The tone from the top always depicts the company’s values best.

What does good allyship look like in the workplace?

Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues and clients is core to our values. We know there's always more that can be done and speaking to our colleagues has kept this in focus. We're committed to making progress.

Photography courtesy of Will Dibble

Moneycorp is a trading name of TTT Moneycorp Limited, a company registered in England under registration number 738837. Its registered office address is at Floor 5, Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6SQ and it is VAT registration number is 897 3934 54.