Pamela McCormick co-founded United Development in 2000, with the vision to create the premier agency for spotting and supporting Black music talent in the UK.Twenty years on, UD’s work stands where the creativity of underground music meets the industry, combining business acumen with an understanding of youth culture. Through industry-led business and employment support programmes, career guidance, access to resources and showcasing, UD have supported thousands of participants (14 – 25 years, majority Black, Asian, minority ethnic) to access and progress within the music industry. Pamela grew up in Belfast in the 1970s through the era of pub bombings, barricades, daily murders and little integration. As her thinking and challenging of the origins of the troubles matured, she realised that poverty and lack of aspiration were at the heart of the mutual distrust. This insight has become the keystone upon which Pamela has built her career. After working in Edinburgh, Monte Carlo and Paris, programming and producing jazz events and assisting esteemed composers, concert pianists and conductors, Pamela arrived in London, keen to realise her dreams and action positive social change.Two decades into the project, UD’s idealistic goals became a reality driven by Pamela’s tireless work. Her vision for social and cultural change is the force behind the success of the organisation. The foundation of her beliefs include a passion for equal opportunities, a deep appreciation for music and phenomenal ability to fundraise.Pamela has expanded the organisation with charitable arm UD Music Foundation and UD Music. The former operates in the country’s poorest and most diverse boroughs, for the delivery of an education and early talent programme. The latter operates like a record label, talent incubator, production house, recording studio and publisher.Pamela’s legacy at UD is one of dutiful care and dedication to UD’s cause. Driving it to be recognised by the public sector for the social and cultural impact of it’s work, and respected and rewarded by the private sector for the value UD adds to the commercial music industry. Her position and experience within the charitable musical sector goes without question and the legacy that she’s set is the basis for the future UD wants to create.Artists UD has helped and worked with in their early careers include Labrinth, Wretch 32 and Maverick Sabre. Young people and emerging professionals that UD have supported now work at industry institutions including Island Records, Universal, Nike, and many more.