Rachel is the Founder and CEO of Chocolate Films, a film production company based in London and Glasgow which produces video content for a wide range of clients as varied as Jeep, Arup and Tom Ford. Chocolate Films is a leading content provider for museums and galleries across the UK and in Europe, making films for National Gallery, TATE, Museum of London and many more. From the start Rachel was passionate about setting up as a social enterprise, Chocolate Films runs an extensive outreach programme engaging with disadvantaged young people in filmmaking skills. Last year over 5000 young people were trained in digital media skills at Chocolate Films workshops
Rachel was appointed by the Prime Minister to the board of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery in April 2017. She sits on the panel for Film London’s Film Hub, contributing to policy and strategy for promoting non-mainstream cinema. She is a Freeman of the City, and an active member of the Guild of Entrepreneurs.
Rachel was recently invited to be on the UK Council for Creative Industries Federation. Rachel will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of Law in April 2018 and in July 2017 Rachel was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business from Middlesex University. Last year she became a Leadership Fellow at St.George’s House, Windsor Castle. Rachel won the Women in Social Enterprise Award in November 2017 and was nominated the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award for National Diversity Awards. Rachel became ‘Lead Entrepreneur’ at the Black British Business Awards in October 2015. Before founding Chocolate Films, Rachel studied at Bristol University and did the CPE and LPC at the University of Law, becoming SFA registered when she worked in the City as a Corporate Financier.
As a film director, Rachel is fascinated by social documentary. Her acclaimed feature documentary ‘Afro Saxons’ followed a year in the lives of the competitors in the UK’s biggest Afro-Caribbean hair competition. She is currently producing the largest ever documentary series produced about a city, www.1000Londoners.com , which comprises 1000 short video portraits of the most diverse range of people who identify themselves with the city.