UK Black History Month takes place every October, spotlighting Black British history, culture and the people shaping it today. Here are seven of PepTalk's favourite Black History Month speakers, plus a ready-to-use set of hashtags for promoting your event and answers to the most common booking questions.
Leading Voices for UK Black History Month
Elliot Barnes-Worrell
Elliot champions the integration of Black history into everyday life and the workplace, and speaks about why the work continues all year round. He's an actor, writer and director who has worked alongside industry names like Steven Spielberg and appeared on the BBC and Netflix, and his talks blend that creative experience with practical guidance on anti-racism strategies, empathetic leadership and building genuinely inclusive teams.
Learn more and book Elliot Barnes-Worrell →
Naomi Schiff
Naomi is a Rwandan-Belgian racing driver, television presenter and diversity and inclusion ambassador for W Series. Her experience breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of motorsport gives her a distinctive perspective on resilience and inclusion, and her talks help teams think differently about diversity within their own organisation or industry.
Learn more and book Naomi Schiff →
Fehinti Balogun
Fehinti is an actor, multimedia creative and climate justice activist who uses his platform to make the case that every voice has the power to drive change. Through his art and advocacy he pushes audiences to move from conversation to action, exploring what genuine allyship and progress look like in practice.
Learn more and book Fehinti Balogun →
Collette Philip
Collette is an anti-racist brand strategist with 25 years' experience working with organisations including McDonald's, T-Mobile and Barnardo's. She's been featured in Third Sector, Campaign, Forbes and BBC Radio 4, named to Campaign's "40 Over 40" list, and as co-founder of Join Our Table she's dedicated to representing and uplifting Black women in business.
Learn more and book Collette Philip →
Dwayne Fields
Dwayne is the UK's Chief Scout, an explorer and a Royal Geographical Society Fellow whose journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming the first young Black Briton to reach the Magnetic North Pole speaks for itself. His BAFTA-nominated adventure alongside Ben Fogle in Endurance: Race to the Pole brought his story to a wider audience, and his talks combine adventure with a genuine passion for the environment and for inspiring the next generation.
Learn more and book Dwayne Fields →
Bernadette Thompson OBE
Bernadette is a seasoned HR professional and diversity campaigner whose work has shaped workplace culture across major UK organisations. Her talks give teams practical guidance on building diversity and inclusion into how a business actually operates, rather than treating it as a one-off conversation.
Learn more and book Bernadette Thompson OBE →
Johanne Penney
Johanne is the founder and CEO of Amp Up Your Voice Ltd, a multi-award-winning leadership and culture consultancy that works with executive teams to embed inclusion into business strategy. She draws on her own experience of having her career derailed by racial discrimination to ground her sessions in lived reality, then moves into practical frameworks covering psychological safety, sponsorship pipelines and cultural competency. Her client list includes Spotify, Barclays, BAE Systems and the NHS.
Learn more and book Johanne Penney →
Hashtags for UK Black History Month
Promoting a Black History Month event in your workplace this October? To make your life easier, we've curated a set of evergreen hashtags to help promote your BHM event or talk on social media. Simply copy and paste:
#BlackHistoryMonthUK #BlackBritishHistory #ProudToBeBlackUK #BlackExcellenceUK #BlackVoicesUK #UKBlackHeritage #BlackCultureCelebration #BlackTrailblazersUK #InspiringBlackFutures #EmpowerBlackVoices #Diversity #Inclusion #Culture
Looking for more ways to mark the month? Read our awareness days and cultural calendar for October, browse more UK events and speakers you need to book now, or take a deep dive into diversity with June Sarpong.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is UK Black History Month?
UK Black History Month takes place every October, giving workplaces a dedicated moment to explore Black history, culture and achievement through talks, panels and events.
How do I book a Black History Month speaker?
Get in touch with the PepTalk team by email at hello@getapeptalk.com or by phone on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and we'll help match the right speaker and format, whether that's a keynote, panel or fireside chat, to your event.
How far in advance should I book?
Because October is one of the busiest months in the diversity and inclusion calendar, popular Black History Month speakers get booked out early. Reach out as soon as you have a date so we can check availability.
"The BLM protests reminded many millions that Black History Month wasn't some add-on or goodwill gesture, but a necessity if you truly want to understand British and world history."— Gaverne Bennett
💡 Want to book any of these speakers instantly? Email hello@getapeptalk.com or call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!
