Member Article

Agency Founder Gets On Board With Investment Platform

Ethical Equity, the UK’s first dedicated and ethically compliant investment platform, has appointed Birmingham agency founder, Tara Attfield-Tomes, to its Governance Board. The pioneering platform, which connects underrepresented founders with likeminded impact investors, has strengthened its leadership ahead of its 2024 growth plans.

Tara joins Ethical Equity’s Governance Board to help set the organisation’s strategic direction, build community relationships, and support the wider team with its growth ambitions. Having founded Birmingham-based PR agency, EAST VILLAGE., Tara has demonstrated a profound understanding of the intricacies of impact-driven initiatives and their significance in driving positive change.

For the past 10 years, EAST VILLAGE. has built a reputation as a pioneering PR agency, with purpose at its core. This year saw the agency reaffirm its specialism within the tech sector, securing clients such as TechWM, which supports the Midlands’ ecosystem, and its flagship event Birmingham Tech Week, which has become the UK’s biggest regional tech festival.

Speaking about her appointment to the Ethical Equity Governance Board, Tara comments:

“I am truly honoured to be joining Ethical Equity and playing my part in building a sustainable and impact-driven investment platform. For too long, this space has been dominated by investors that aren’t representative of the world we live in, which has ultimately resulted in a massive lack of funding for founders from underserved groups. As soon as I met the team, I knew that I could add value to their mission and really help to demystify and democratise Angel Investing.

We’ve got some big plans for 2024, which focus on getting a more exciting and diverse range of people into investing, and connecting more founders with the money they need to scale and grow. We’re not just going to impact individual business owners but also help to uplift communities that have been traditionally overlooked; truly overhauling the start-up and scale-up scene. Bring it on!“

Tara founded EAST VILLAGE. back in 2013; an agency that works with tech brands that empower underserved communities, innovative founders creating everyday change, and organisations that feed the ecosystem.

Ali Kazmi, Founder and CEO of Bristol-based Ethical Equity, adds:

“We are thrilled to have Tara join our Governance Board. Her wealth of experience and dedication to creating inclusive opportunities align perfectly with our vision. In 2024, we’re embarking on a mission to create 1,000 new Angel Investors and having the right team around us is paramount to that.

Many people don’t realise that you can begin Angel Investing with just £500 or £1,000 – we want to empower people so that they reap the benefits of investing, not just financially, but supporting founders’ growth journeys and supporting the structure of often underserved communities. The true meaning of impact investment!

We’re excited to officially launch in Birmingham in January, and we have some big plans with some big players, so watch this space!“

Ethical Equity is dedicated to enabling individuals and organisations to invest in projects that create a positive social or environmental impact, striving to bring about meaningful change in society. Through its innovative investment solutions, the organisation empowers investors to align their financial goals with their values, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future.

In line with their shared commitment to inclusivity, Ethical Equity and EAST VILLAGE. will launch a ground-breaking pilot program in January 2024. This initiative aims to empower a more diverse array of investors, particularly from underrepresented communities, with a target of reaching 1,000 new Angel Investors by the end of 2024.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Claire Bryson .