At UD, we pride ourselves on being a diverse team who take direct action to equip the young people who are trying to break through into notoriously competitive creative environments, with the tools they need: Excellence, structure, confidence, opportunity and networks.
With our roots in the vibrant Black Music scenes that have emerged from east London, UD combines business acumen with an up-to-the-minute understanding of youth culture and stands at the crossroads where the creativity of emerging Black Music meets the music industry.
Staff, tutors, board and participants continue to represent the communities they live and work in. For us to be together, united as one, we must claim as our right the highest ambitions, the access to excellence that will equip us to achieve, and the deepest support that will sustain us on our journey.
We are passionate that the London of the future is found in our organisation today.
Pamela McCormick
Founder/Director
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. Her vision for social and cultural change is the force behind the organisation while the foundation of her beliefs include a passion for equal opportunities, a deep appreciation for music and phenomenal ability to fundraise.
Andy Gilbert
Musical Director & Tutor, Flames Collective
Andy Gilbert has over 20 years experience working as an artist, writer and producer. As a musical director, he has worked with various local groups to support their performance and he currently runs UD in-house group, Flames Collective.
kadian foster
Assistant Tutor/ Project Support, Flames Collective
Kadi is a singer/songwriter born in Southeast London. Since graduating with a BA Hons in Commercial Songwriting (2020), she has immersed herself in pursuing an independent music career whilst working in the field of music education.
Kadi’s experience covers working with children & young people through various music charities such as Ark Music, School Ground Sounds, Arts Train and Keychanges.
With a love for pop and soul music, overtime achieving sync success on ITV’s popular show Love Island as a co-writer, Kadi hopes to continue reaching for her goals as a recording artist and songwriter, since releasing her first album project ‘Shed This Skin’.
NAYANA BRATHWAITE
Programme Associate
Nayana was raised between British and Caribbean cultures. Coming to London to settle in the 90’s from Trinidad, her family brought with them a distinct love for not only soca and calypso, but also their love of music as a whole.
Having now completed her Music Performance degree, Nayana’s currently studying for her Masters. As well as championing her own soulful strain of jazz fuelled R&B as Nayana.AB, Nayana can be heard performing with UD’s Flames Collective and hosting and curating events like UD Open Mic and Orii Jam.
JUSTINA BRYCE
Studio Associate
Music producer, engineer and UD alumni, Justina Bryce aka Likkle Jay started making beats from a young age. She went on to study music technology and joined UD in 2013 where she started her engineering experience at the UD Studio. Since then, Justina has held her own studio sessions and worked on projects for artists, film, adverts and sync. More recently Justina was part of the engineering team at Abbey Road Studios.
Justina has worked with and been involved in projects from the likes of Capella Grey, Stormzy, Ling Hussle, DXINX and the list continues. Among her impressive achievements, she proudly served as a recording engineer on Chris Brown’s acclaimed album ‘Breezy’, earning a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.
Chris LAYTON
Duty Manager
Born and raised in London, Chris began writing songs around 10 years old and moved into music production & engineering in his late teens. Working as a play worker in Lambeth in adventure playgrounds from 2008 – 2016, Chris took the initiative to set up studio workshops and mentoring for young people interested in music before moving into music full-time, working from his own studio as well as freelancing at multiple high end studios in London.
Over the years, he’s worked with artists in a wide range of genres, both independent and on major labels – including Island, Sony, Atlantic, Disturbing London, Universal & many more – co-written and engineered vocals on a platinum selling single, a gold album, and multiple UK number one albums.
CHANTELLE FIDDY
Marketing Consultant
After graduating with a BA Hons in Journalism from UAL back in 2001, Fiddy began her career at Touch Magazine, championing the then unknown genre grime. Her work subsequently appeared in i-D, Dazed & Confused, The Guardian, Sunday Times Style and many more. In 2013 Fiddy began working as a tour and day-to-day manager, having since worked with the likes of Duke Dumont, Boy Matthews, Jax Jones, Jammer, Lord Of The Mics, Kelli-Leigh & Black Focus Records. She currently manages Nottingham MC, Mez.
With a CV that covers a vast array of work with major and independent record labels, Fiddy has also worked in radio & TV and continues to write for TRENCH and Complex UK.
BRANDON mcdONALD
Studio Associate
Artist, sound engineer & producer hailing from Essex, Brandon also known as Lil BM/BM Baby, is a multifaceted musician making waves in the UK’s underground music scene. Since stepping into the industry in 2017, Brandon started his journey in Acton mirroring engineers such as Fumez.
With his signature sound predominantly being trap-soul/R&B, Brandon is known for pushing sonic boundaries with smooth melodies and hard-hitting beats.
