News
Bottling Ambition
8 Oct 2025
The 26-year-old who’s already a mentor after making a splash with fragrances.
My personal mission is to inspire others,” says Kwame Boateng, founder of Ingrained Oil and winner of this year’s Youth Ambition Award, which recognises a stand-out entrepreneur from The King’s Trust Enterprise programme. He says: “As a black entrepreneur, raised on a council estate in Walsall, I hope young people look at me and think, ‘If he can do it, maybe I can too.’”
Growing up, Boateng, 26, admits he struggled to find his place in the world: “I wasn’t the smartest kid in class and I wasn’t talented at sports either. Trying to figure out what I was good at felt like a huge battle.”
That changed when he discovered entrepreneurship. After suffering skin irritation from fragrances, he set out to create an alcohol-free alternative. “It wasn’t just about solving a problem,” he says. “It was about rethinking the way fragrances are sold, and creating a more inclusive environment.”
I wasn’t the smartest kid in class and I wasn’t talented at sports either. Trying to figure out what I was good at felt like a huge battle.”
Boateng started selling his oils at car boot sales, using the experience to test the market and connect with customers. A friend introduced him to The King’s Trust Enterprise programme, which is backed by LDC and designed to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. “From the workshops and mentoring to funding and support, it gave me the community and confidence to grow. It was like a safety cushion,” Boateng says.
He showcased Ingrained Oil at the Black Business Show in 2023 at Birmingham NEC. Four months later, John Lewis signed a pop-up deal, and the business has also partnered with online ethical beauty retailer Counter Culture Store.
Boateng is now helping budding business owners, including working with Birmingham City University and Aston University to offer internships. “My advice is don’t let the unknown stop you from taking that first step.”
