Joel Blake

Joel is a multi-award-winning businessman, speaker, and corporate advisor, specialising in inclusive business growth.

Joel is the CEO of award-winning fintech www.gfaexchange.com which helps financial services firms identify which SME clients are likely to grow, which are not and why. 

He is the former Executive for Growing Business and Access to Finance (GBSLEP) and consults with cross-sector organisations on the development of their inclusive SME business support models. Having lectured at several globally recognised business schools on entrepreneurship and inclusive leadership, Joel has also worked with No 10 Downing Street business policy advisers on UK business growth strategies.

He is the current President of the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, Board Director of Birmingham Tech, a Trustee of Performances Birmingham Ltd (Symphony Hall and Town Hall), and a Fellow of the National Centre for Entrepreneurs.

In his role as a judge, Joel will be looking for noticeably clear examples of how entrepreneurs have overcome challenges, applied their learning from them and can demonstrate how they have continued to add value and impact to a business.