The Reach Events Scholarship Initiative has unveiled ‘Reach
2.0’ - a legacy-driven restructure that formalises governance, strengthens
delivery, and sets a clear path to grow scholarships from three to five per
year.
The Reach (Race
Ethnicity And Cultural Heritage) Events Scholarship Initiative was launched in 2022 to provide a
fund and help support Black, Asian and unrepresented minority ethnic students
to study on events management degree programmes and enter the industry. The
initiative works to provide £5,000 yearly scholarships to support event
management degree students at university with their living expenses over three
years of study. Students apply directly to the university, who then select the
candidates and arrange the funding.
The
scholarships are funded by industry donations; organisations pledge to give
£5,000 per year for three years. Reach has grown to offer students more than
the scholarship – it is also integrating students in the working world by
introducing them to employers for work experience, internships, networking and
employment opportunities.
Reach 2.0 is a refreshed model, introducing an Advisory
Board to steer strategy, operations and decision-making, alongside active
working parties across social, PR, coaching & alumni, events and
fundraising.
Reach cofounder, Robert Kenward, “As we enter our fourth
year, Reach has grown beyond what one or two people can do. I’m incredibly
grateful to the industry friends who helped get us here - Priya Narain, Marty
Fullard, Gabby Austen-Browne and Jonathan Sibley are superstars, and now Reach
needs to have longevity and legacy so it needs to stand on its own feet with
shared ownership. Reach 2.0 puts specialists around the table, organised into
working parties that deliver measurable, actionable outcomes and also more
visibility for the programme.
“We did good work in the past; now we’re set up to do great
work for the long term. My focus is securing five donors a year (up from three)
so we can fund more scholars, while an engaged Advisory Board leads the
programme’s overall strategy and deliverables. I’m an ally, not a person of
colour, and as one of our ambassadors so eloquently put it, ‘you can’t be what
you can’t see.’ That’s why this next phase is community-led, designed to
outlive me and keep championing who gets to thrive in our sector.”
Anupa White, director, Principal Global Events and advisory board
director: “The Reach Events Scholarship is about more than opening doors - it’s
about changing the face of our industry. By providing funding, mentorship, and
invaluable connections, we are empowering talented Black, Asian, and
minority-ethnic students to step into the events, MICE, and hospitality sectors
with confidence. I’m thrilled to welcome such a diverse and talented group to
our Advisory Board and ambassador team. Their expertise and passion will be
invaluable in driving the Reach Events Scholarship forward.”
Advisory Board
- Robert Kenward, fitability®
recruiter & founder, Jigsaw Talent Solutions
- Anupa White, director,
Principal Global Events
- Janine Hart, managing
director, Pure Communications Group
- Nadu Placca Rodriguez,
CEO, The Zoo XYZ
- Rummanah Promi, event
co-ordinator, BUTL
- Samantha Salisbury, events
manager, Jonsam Events Ltd
Ambassadors
- Roeleen Johnson, head of
account management & implementation, Hotel and Travel Solutions Ltd
- Diana Frederiksen, head of
business development, conferences & events, Excel London
- Cherise Scotland, people
and culture manager, EMC3
- David Ogiste, founder,
Nobody’s Café
To date, Reach has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan
University and the University of Hertfordshire, with the university partner for
2026 to be announced later this year.
