We have now had a long-standing relationship with the charity Purple Shoots, which provides financial support for small businesses that would struggle to obtain funding from more traditional sources. Here we have an inspirational story of Franck Banza as we hear about his drive for good.
Purple Shoots first crossed paths with Franck Banza through his charity, the Centre for African Entrepreneurship (CAE), an organisation they have proudly partnered with for many years. The CAE is dedicated to empowering and supporting ethnically diverse communities, particularly migrants, by offering tailored, person-centred services. These services address a broad range of needs, from employability and financial education to well-being and youth empowerment. One of their core missions is to help these communities thrive through enterprise and employment — a goal we wholeheartedly share, having supported many of their clients in their journey toward self-employment.
When Franck Banza decided to start his own business alongside his charitable work, he turned to us for support. In 2021, Super Bio Boost was born — a company committed to producing natural health products inspired by traditional African plant-based remedies. This venture aims to raise awareness around preventative medicine and help people improve their quality of life through natural means. Super Bio Boost is built on strong ethical principles: for every £1 of income, 50p goes toward sourcing ingredients from African farmers and families and manufacturing the products in the UK, 25p is reinvested into research and development (including supporting traditional healers and herbalists in Africa), 20p covers running costs, and 5p goes directly to his charity. Despite the slow recovery following the pandemic, the business has flourished, and Franck repaid his loan ahead of schedule.
But Franck’s journey didn’t stop there. Through his experiences as a small business owner and his work at the CAE, he became increasingly frustrated by the lack of understanding and support from the Government for people on the margins. Despite widespread rhetoric about “levelling up,” real, tangible support remained out of reach for many. After lobbying, applying for funding, and advocating on social media with limited results, Franck chose to take his mission to the next level. He decided to drive change from within the system — standing for and being selected as the parliamentary candidate for Gower in 2024. If elected, Franck will be a powerful voice for the excluded and overlooked, with first-hand experience of the challenges faced by ordinary people and a wealth of innovative ideas for meaningful solutions.
Franck Banza’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. From leading a charity to launching a successful ethical business and stepping into the political arena, he is a true force for good. When the Purple Shoots loan officer assessed his application, he concluded his report: “Franck is a powerhouse of ideas and a force for good.” We couldn’t agree more.
Duport is proud to contribute to stories like Franck’s through our partnership with Purple Shoots, enabling more entrepreneurs realise their visions.
If you’re ready to start your own business, you can take our quiz to find out what type of business fits your needs: https://www.duport.co.uk/formation-quiz/
