BCOMS

What BCOMS does

BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) is a UK-registered non-profit organisation founded in 2009 and headquartered in London. It operates as a training, networking, and advocacy platform focused on increasing representation of Black and ethnically diverse professionals in the UK sports media industry. The organisation runs structured career-development programmes, conferences, and research initiatives aimed at connecting under-represented talent with employers in sports broadcasting, journalism, and content production. It claims an alumni base of more than 300 individuals who have progressed through its programmes and currently employs approximately 48 staff.

BCOMS delivers its mission through a portfolio of programmes including the Masterclass Programme, the D Word Conference (the fifth edition hosted at Stamford Bridge in 2025 to mark the 15th anniversary of the organisation), a paid membership and alumni network, a research programme, and a jobs board. Its partner roster spans major UK and global sports and media organisations, including Chelsea Foundation, BBC Sport, Meta, Nike, the Premier League, Formula 1, ITV Sport, News UK, Liverpool FC, and Brown Girl Sport. The geographic footprint has expanded from a London base into the North of England and the Midlands via the BCOMS North cohort launched around 2021/22, with a separate Liverpool FC partnership supporting a regional masterclass.

The business model is grant- and partnership-funded, supplemented by membership fees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, the entity operates without equity funding, and there are no external investment rounds. The core "technology" consists of programme operations (event management, cohort curation, member communications, content publishing on its owned channels) rather than a software platform or proprietary tech stack. BCOMS functions as a community-building non-profit whose primary capital is reputational, relational, and programmatic.

Name

BCOMS

Legal name

Black Collective of Media in Sport Ltd

Website

https://bcoms.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BCOMS is a London-based non-profit founded in 2009 that trains, connects, and advocates for Black and ethnically diverse professionals in UK sports media via masterclasses, conferences, and a 300+ member alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Media Diversity Training

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABALAS

Media, Entertainment & Sports

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

SECONDARYMPAKACAE

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKAFAC

National Governing Bodies (NGBs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

Keywords

• Diversity training
• Sports media careers
• Journalism bursaries
• Industry networking
• Masterclass programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: BCOMS operates a premium membership program offering exclusive content, networking opportunities, job feeds, behind-the-scenes insights, podcast access, press pass opportunities to matches and events, and community engagement. The membership is positioned as a premium space for networking with sports media professionals.
2. Partnership and Bursary Programs: BCOMS receives support from corporate partners (Chelsea Foundation, BBC Sport, Meta, Nike, etc.) for bursary programs that fund journalism qualifications for aspiring diverse journalists, including travel and living cost contributions of up to £5000 plus full qualification coverage.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) trains and connects the next generation of diverse sports media talent in the UK through a flagship masterclass programme, premium membership networking, bursary-funded NCTJ journalism qualifications, alumni career support, and a biennial diversity research conference (The D Word). The organization also publishes research on representation in UK sports media and runs a jobs board linking members with employer opportunities.

Product overview

BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) is a single unified programme focused on training and connecting diverse sports media talent in the UK. The core offerings include the BCOMS Masterclass Programme for individual development, The D Word Conference for research and advocacy, BCOMS Membership for ongoing career support, and the BCOMS Alumni Network for graduate progression. The organisation also produces research reports and operates a jobs board connecting diverse talent with industry opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The D Word: BCOMS's flagship conference and research programme on diversity in UK sports media, held every few years since 2014.
• BCOMS Academy
• BCOMS Media Academy

Products and services

• BCOMS Masterclass Programme Flagship development programme offering young talented diverse individuals a series of in-person development sessions focused on pathways into the sports media industry, providing experience-building opportunities and professional networking. Runs in London (with Meta and Nike) and in North/Midlands England (with BBC Sport).
• The D Word Conference Biennial/periodic conference and research programme bringing senior industry decision-makers together with journalists, academics, EDI experts and emerging talent to review progress and set the agenda for change in UK sports media diversity. Each edition includes new BCOMS research measuring representation across broadcast and written sports media.
• BCOMS Membership Premium subscription membership providing exclusive networking, masterclasses, career advice, weekly newsletter, jobs feed, behind-the-scenes insights, podcast access with industry professionals, and press pass access to matches, press conferences, interviews, major international games and club finals.
• BCOMS Research Programme Proprietary research initiative measuring representation across broadcast (421 roles) and written (215 roles) sports media coverage of major events including EURO 2024, Women's World Cup 2023, Six Nations 2024, Wimbledon 2024, and the Olympics and Paralympics 2024; produces public reports used for advocacy.
• BCOMS Jobs Board Job listing platform connecting diverse talent with sports media opportunities, including roles from partner organisations such as CNN London internships and positions across broadcast and written media.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ young people have progressed through the BCOMS programme into sports media careers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Chelsea FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChelsea Foundation partners with BCOMS on bursary programmes offering aspiring sports journalists from under-represented backgrounds access to journalism qualifications (NCTJ). The partnership provides full funding for qualifications plus £5000 towards travel and living costs for recipients to study at News Associates in Twickenham. This is an ongoing partnership with continued rounds in 2024 and 2025/26.
• MetacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeta partners with BCOMS to run masterclass sessions in London, providing support for the flagship masterclass programme that offers development sessions, industry pathways, and networking opportunities for diverse young talent.
• NikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNike partners with BCOMS to run masterclass sessions in London alongside Meta, supporting the training and development of diverse sports media talent through the flagship masterclass programme.
• BBC SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Sport supports the BCOMS North masterclass sessions in the North and Midland regions of England, providing industry access and partnership for diverse talent development outside of London.
• MatchFit AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMatchFit Agency is listed as a partner organization on BCOMS website, contributing to the ecosystem of support for diverse sports media talent.
• Premier LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League is a partner organization providing industry connections and support for BCOMS talent development programmes in sports media.
• Formula 1majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormula 1 partners with BCOMS providing media access opportunities and industry pathways for diverse talent interested in motorsport sports media careers.
• ITV SportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITV Sport is a partner organization providing industry connections and potential employment pathways for BCOMS alumni in sports broadcasting.
• News UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNews UK (The Sun, The Times) partners with BCOMS providing journalism qualification pathways and career opportunities for diverse talent in sports media.
• BBC SportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Sport is a partner providing industry access, masterclass support for North cohorts, and employment pathways for BCOMS alumni including hosting work experience.
• Liverpool FCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiverpool FC champions diversity in sport media with BCOMS, hosting masterclass events at Anfield and providing industry access for North cohort members.
• Brown Girl SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced between Brown Girl Sport and BCOMS to together provide opportunities for South Asians across sports media. Brown Girl Sport founder Miriam Walker-Khan hosted BCOMS members at Chelsea FC event celebrating their 3rd anniversary.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• News Associates: UK journalism training provider that delivers the NCTJ fast-track course funded through the BCOMS x Chelsea Foundation bursary. Acts as a delivery partner for BCOMS's qualification pathway rather than a competitor.
• NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists): UK journalism training and qualification body whose NCTJ accreditation underpins BCOMS's Chelsea Foundation bursary programme. Functions as an enabler/infrastructure provider rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Football Beyond Borders: UK charity using football to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with some media and storytelling components. Comparable youth-development-and-sport mission but with less of a media-industry placement focus than BCOMS.

Direct peers

• Sporting Equals: UK charity supporting ethnic diversity in sport and physical activity. Overlapping mission on BAME representation in sport, with similar partnership model and policy/research output that competes for the same corporate EDI budgets.
• Brown Girl Sport: Platform elevating South Asian women in sport with a media and community focus. Directly comparable niche diversity-in-sports-media mission; BCOMS and Brown Girl Sport are also formal partners, indicating close mission alignment.
• Women in Football: UK organization promoting gender equality across the football industry, including media, administration and coaching roles. Comparable membership/networking model and partnership-driven funding structure to BCOMS.
• Kick It Out: UK football's leading equality and inclusion charity addressing discrimination across the game. Most directly comparable peer to BCOMS given the shared diversity-in-sport mission, though Kick It Out focuses on the playing side while BCOMS focuses on the media side.
• Women in Sport: Long-established UK charity advocating for gender equity in sport. Comparable membership, research, and corporate partnership model; while broader than media alone, it competes for the same EDI-focused sports sponsorship pool.
• Level Playing Field: UK charity promoting disability inclusion and accessibility across sport. Shares the diversity-in-sport remit and partnership-driven funding model, though focused on access rather than media representation.

Regional players

• Asian Sports Network: Community-based organization advocating for British Asian participation and representation across UK sport. Comparable mission on ethnic diversity in sport, though smaller and less media-focused than BCOMS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearebcoms
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC29YefV4al8TGmjz3mHohPQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bcoms
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearebcoms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BCOMS