Belfast-born founder of UD honoured for 25 years of work supporting young people and underrepresented talent

Pamela McCormick, founder and director of UD (formerly Urban Development), has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours 2025 for outstanding services to music education.

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Pamela has spent her career working across music, education, youth culture and social justice, helping thousands of young people – particularly from working class and Black British communities – develop creative careers in the music industry. Her work has shaped how the UK nurtures emerging talent, especially in genres historically under-supported by traditional music education.

A lifelong advocate for music and young people
Pamela's journey began in 1970s Belfast, amid the Troubles. Raised against a backdrop of political division and civil unrest, she grew increasingly aware that poverty and a lack of aspiration were root causes of social breakdown. This realisation became the foundation of her life's work: building positive opportunities for young people through music.

After graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in French, Pamela began her career in jazz, programming and producing concerts in the Scottish capital before moving to Paris. She worked across tours featuring legendary artists such as the Branford Marsalis Trio, Celia Cruz & Tito Puente, Ornette Coleman, Nina Simone, Gil Scott Heron and Courtney Pine. 

It was London where Pamela would fully realise her ambition: working initially with DJ Pogo's Lyrical Lounge and Jonzi D's Apricot Jam to create a platform for underrepresented talent in contemporary Black music. In 2000, with Pogo and a collective of hip-hop musicians, she co-founded Urban Development (now UD) in Stratford, east London, then one of the capital's most deprived boroughs. The aim was simple but significant: to support musical talent overlooked by the mainstream and bridge the gap with the music industry.

Building a national force for change
Under Pamela's leadership, UD has grown from grassroots beginnings into a nationally recognised music education and talent development organisation. In 2023, it was named a National Youth Music Organisation by Arts Council England. Each year, UD now works with more than 2,500 young people aged 14–25 and has played a role in the early careers of artists including Labrinth, Little Simz, Skepta, Devlin, Wretch 32 and Ghetts. 

One of UD's most powerful success stories is the Flames Collective, a vocal harmony group developed with long-time collaborator and Musical Director, Andy Gilbert. Comprising 14–21-year-olds, Flames represents the next wave of British talent. They've already performed with RAYE at Glastonbury, the Royal Albert Hall and The BRIT Awards, and will appear this weekend (14 June) at Little Simz's Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre, on stage with Sasha Keable.

Pamela has also championed non-performing roles in the music industry. Through programmes like UD's Incubator and Industry Takeover, co-curated with the youth media team under the leadership of legendary music journalist and now Marketing Consultant, Chantelle Fiddy, she has expanded the definition of what a music career looks like – supporting young executives, creatives, A&Rs, managers and entrepreneurs as well as performers. 

UD's alumni can be found working at major music and media companies including Apple, BBC Introducing, SoundCloud, Ticketmaster, TikTok, Universal Music UK, Warner Music UK and more.  She's worked with school music teachers, the national Music Education Hubs and music charities to advocate for the inclusion of Black music styles in the national curriculum and GCSE / A Level syllabuses. Her work has helped challenge old hierarchies and expand what is taught, who teaches it and who feels music is 'for them'. 

Pamela's work has been widely recognised. In 2017, she received the Campaigner Award at Music Week's Women in Music Awards; while in 2020, she was honoured with a Special Recognition Award by the Music Producers Guild for her outstanding work in supporting and educating the next generation of diverse musical talent in the UK.

The Talent House: a permanent home for progression
In 2022, UD opened the groundbreaking £4.1 million Talent House in Stratford. Co-funded by the Mayor of London and developed in partnership with East London Dance, the Talent House is a state-of-the-art facility offering recording studios, rehearsal rooms and teaching spaces – available at low cost to emerging talent from across the capital and beyond. The centre is a launchpad for careers and a legacy project ensuring that young people in east London continue to benefit from the 2012 Olympic Games' regeneration. 

UD's educational efforts are supported by a range of partners in music and culture, including BBC Introducing, BPI, Converse, Live Nation, PPL, PRS Foundation, Soho House Foundation, Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and so many more, ensuring that UD acts as a bridge between underrepresented young people and the mainstream music industry. 

Pamela McCormick MBE said:
"I'm incredibly honoured to receive this recognition, but it's really a testament to the collective effort behind UD. From our amazing team – both past and present – to our collaborators, funders, artists and the young people who place their trust in us, this work has always been about community.

"UD has never been just about one person. It's about creating a platform for talent that's too often overlooked – and that takes a village. Over the years, I've been fortunate to work with dedicated trustees including Lord Victor Adebowale CBE and Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE; and colleagues including Laura Brosnan, Hazel Durrant, George Ebenezer, Chantelle Fiddy, Kadian Foster, Andy Gilbert, Charlie Ogbechie, Natalie Maddix, Sherelle Mckenzie, Eunice Obianagha, Jade Richardson, Rebecca Wren; alongside partners who share our belief that young people from all backgrounds deserve a place in this industry.

"I remain deeply grateful to every young creative who's walked through our doors – their talent, drive and resilience inspire everything we do. This MBE is for all of them. I'm proud of what we've built together and hopeful for what's to come."

Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, UD interim Chair, said:
"Pamela is a visionary leader who has built something extraordinary. What she's achieved through UD is not just impressive – it's transformative. Her work has changed the landscape for music education and for the industry as a whole, giving thousands of young people access to real opportunity.

"She has a rare combination of creative insight, strategic leadership and genuine humility. While she would never seek the spotlight, Pamela has quietly driven some of the most important developments in inclusive talent development in the UK. She's nurtured artists, mentored executives and built a nationally recognised organisation from the ground up.

"This honour is richly deserved – not just for her accomplishments, but for the legacy she continues to shape for future generations."