Empower Consultants

What Empower Consultants does

Empower Consultants CIC is a Black Minority Ethnic (BME)-led Community Interest Company headquartered in Stretford, Manchester, delivering advocacy, training, and community support services across Greater Manchester, Trafford, and Tameside. The organisation provides BME advocacy, statutory advocacy through qualified Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs), Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs), and Care Act Advocates (ICAAs), Relevant Persons Representative support under DoLS, McKenzie Friend court support, debt advice in partnership with Step Change, and CPD-accredited Mental Health and Cultural Competence training. Service delivery is multilingual (Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi), person-centred, and tailored for South Asian, Black African, Caribbean, and dual heritage adults facing mental health challenges, disability, or both.

The business operates on a professional-services revenue model funded through a blend of statutory advocacy fees, NHS and government grants, training course fees, and ancillary catering income from its wholly-owned social enterprise subsidiary Kurry Kitchen. Major programmes include the Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP, ongoing since 2022) funded by NHS Greater Manchester ICB and co-delivered with ACMHS and Fikawelie Mental Health Unit CIC, the completed Culturally Appropriate Advocacy Pilot (CAAP) funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (November 2021 to March 2022), and the TALK Rona COVID-19 multilingual mental health helpline (October 2020 to January 2022). The organisation has no proprietary technology platform; its go-to-market is community-led, relying on NHS and healthcare provider referrals, council and VCSE partnerships, social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and direct outreach via phone, email, and WhatsApp.

Governance is provided by an advisory board drawn from local councils, the CQC, and VCSE sector stakeholders, and leadership comprises qualified social workers, a Mental Health Ambassador, and a Financial Consultant. Operating status is active, with disclosed cumulative outcomes of 122 clients served, 1000+ successful cases, 284 consultations, and 15 service lines. The entity is structured as a private UK CIC with no parent company, no disclosed equity funding, and no M&A activity, reflecting a community-benefit model oriented toward sustainable service delivery rather than venture-scale expansion.

Name

Empower Consultants

Legal name

Empower Consultants CIC

Website

https://empowerconsultants.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empower Consultants CIC is a BME-led social enterprise headquartered in Stretford, Manchester, delivering culturally responsive advocacy, statutory mental health advocacy (IMHA/IMCA/ICAA), court support, debt advice, and CPD-accredited training to South Asian, Black African, Caribbean and dual heritage adults across Greater Manchester, Trafford and Tameside.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social advocacy and community support services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Cultural competence training
• Statutory advocacy services
• Debt advice services
• Community interest company

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester (Stretford)

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advocacy and Support Services: Empower Consultants provides fee-for-service advocacy services including BME advocacy, statutory advocacy (IMHA, IMCA, ICAA), Relevant Persons Representative support, McKenzie Friend services, and debt advice. These services are likely funded through a combination of statutory funding, grants, and service fees.
2. Training and Education Services: The organization delivers CPD-accredited mental health and cultural competence training to organizations, charities, healthcare providers, and community teams. Training is provided through in-person, online, and blended formats, generating revenue through course fees.
3. NHS Funded Programme Delivery: Empower Consultants participates in the NHS Greater Manchester ICB-funded Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP), delivering culturally responsive mental health services and CPD-accredited Cultural Competence Training for mental health professionals.
4. Kurry Kitchen Catering: Kurry Kitchen, a women-led social enterprise, generates revenue through catering services for community events, corporate meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and private celebrations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Empower Consultants CIC is a BME-led social enterprise providing independent advocacy, court support, debt advice, and CPD-accredited training for adults from Black and Minority Ethnic communities across Greater Manchester. Core offerings include BME Advocacy, Statutory Advocacy (IMHA, IMCA, ICAA), Relevant Persons Representative support under DoLS, McKenzie Friend court support, and culturally responsive mental health and cultural competence training for organisations. Services are delivered by qualified social workers, advocates, and multilingual practitioners in English, Bengali, Urdu, and Punjabi.

Product overview

Empower Consultants CIC operates as a Black Minority Ethnic-led social enterprise providing a portfolio of advocacy, training, and community support services. The core offering consists of BME Advocacy and Statutory Advocacy (IMHAs, IMCAs, ICAAs) services for adults experiencing mental health challenges or disability, complemented by specialist support including Relevant Persons Representative services and McKenzie Friend court support. Training and Education programmes provide CPD-accredited mental health and cultural competence training. The organisation also runs social enterprise initiatives including Kurry Kitchen catering and community projects such as TALK Rona and the ongoing Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP) in partnership with NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kurry Kitchen: Women-led social enterprise providing catering services, cooking skills development, and employment opportunities for women from South Asian backgrounds.

Products and services

• BME Advocacy Advocacy services for Black Minority Ethnic people with mental health issues who are hospital inpatients or receiving community treatment. Trained advocates provide culturally responsive support recognising individual attitudes, feelings, and cultural or religious backgrounds.
• Statutory Advocacy Qualified Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs), Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs), and Care Act Advocates (ICAAs) providing culturally responsive statutory advocacy services that reflect the diverse communities served.
• Relevant Persons Representative (RPR) RPR support for people subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, maintaining contact and supporting individuals' interests.
• McKenzie Friend Court support for litigants in person in family disputes, providing guidance on court procedures, with representation led by an advisory board of people from BME backgrounds.
• Debt Advice / Understanding Your Situation Free, independent, and non-judgmental debt advice delivered in partnership with the Step Change charity, offering support with budgeting, debt management, and understanding financial challenges with cultural sensitivity.
• Mental Health and Cultural Competence Training CPD-accredited interactive training covering cultural competency, mental health inequalities, EDI principles, anti-racist practice, and inclusive service delivery for organisations and healthcare providers.
• Training and Education Programme Accredited training and audits covering Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Cultural Competence, Health and Social Care, Social Work Practice, Safeguarding, and Risk Management, delivered by Level 5 trainers with Advantage accreditation in-person, online, and blended learning formats.
• Kurry Kitchen Catering Women-led social enterprise at BlueSci in Old Trafford creating opportunities for women from South Asian backgrounds through cooking, skills development, and catering services for community events, corporate meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and private celebrations.
• Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP) NHS Greater Manchester ICB-funded ongoing programme delivering culturally responsive mental health services to South Asian, Black African, Caribbean, and dual heritage communities across Manchester and Trafford, including personalised support, culturally appropriate therapy, advocacy, mentoring, wellbeing workshops, community activities, and CPD-accredited Cultural Competence Training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 122 clients served, 1000+ successful cases, 284 consultations, and 15 services offered
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Caribbean Mental Health Services (ACMHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with ACMHS and Fikawelie Mental Health Unit CIC to deliver the Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP), funded by NHS Greater Manchester ICB. The programme supports South Asian, Black African, Caribbean, and dual heritage communities experiencing severe mental illness or mental health crisis.
• Fikawelie Mental Health Unit CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with ACMHS and Fikawelie Mental Health Unit CIC to deliver the Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP), providing culturally appropriate therapy, advocacy, mentoring, wellbeing workshops, and community-based activities.
• GaddumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Partnership with Gaddum and African Caribbean Mental Health Services (ACMHS) to deliver the Culturally Appropriate Advocacy Pilot (CAAP), a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funded project between November 2021 and March 2022. The pilot responded to findings of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act.
• NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB)coreOthersFunder of the Cultural Wellbeing Programme (CWP) through the Reducing Racial Inequalities in Mental Health Fund (formerly Culturally Appropriate Services Fund). The programme delivers culturally responsive mental health services across Manchester and Trafford since 2022.
• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)coreOthersFunder of the Culturally Appropriate Advocacy Pilot (CAAP) project delivered in partnership with Gaddum and ACMHS between November 2021 and March 2022.
• Step ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmpower Consultants has partnered with the debt charity Step Change to provide free, independent, and non-judgmental debt advice to clients, helping them understand and manage debt with cultural sensitivity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind: England's largest mental health charity providing local advocacy, information, and training. Competes with Empower for local authority and NHS contracts while operating a much broader portfolio.
• Centre for Mental Health: Mental health policy, research, and consultancy charity operating nationally. Comparable to Empower's training and policy-adjacent work on mental health inequalities, but at a thought-leadership rather than direct-service level.
• Rethink Mental Illness: National mental health charity offering advocacy, support services, and training. Overlaps with Empower's mental health advocacy work but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• VoiceAbility: UK-wide advocacy charity delivering IMHA, IMCA, and Care Act advocacy services — directly comparable to Empower's statutory advocacy portfolio and likely competitor for the same NHS/ICB contracts.
• POhWER: Large independent advocacy charity providing IMHA, IMCA, NHS Complaints, and community advocacy. Closest direct competitor to Empower's statutory advocacy services across England.
• Black Health Initiative (BHI): BME-led health charity based in Leeds working to reduce health inequalities for Black communities in the North of England — closely mirrors Empower's BME mental health advocacy and community engagement model.
• The Advocacy Project: London-based charity providing independent advocacy (IMHA, IMCA, Care Act) and peer support services — comparable statutory advocacy model with different geographic focus.
• African Caribbean Mental Health Services (ACMHS): Manchester-based BME mental health charity and existing Empower partner on the Cultural Wellbeing Programme. Directly comparable as a culturally specific mental health service provider in the same geography.
• Gaddum: Greater Manchester-based charity delivering advocacy, mental health, and carer support services. Existing Empower partner on the CAAP pilot and direct peer in the same regional market.

Emerging players

• Diverse Matters: UK DEI and cultural competence consultancy providing training, audits, and inclusion strategy to organisations — directly comparable to Empower's CPD-accredited Cultural Competence Training line for employers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Empower-Consultants-CIC-100063900616347
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-consultants
• Instagraminstagram.com/empower__consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 Empower Consultants