Event planners’ hub, Micebook, hosted its most recent Micebook ‘Talks’ session on why black lives matter and what the industry is doing to bring more equality to the events sector.
The session was led by a selection of industry professionals, including, Frances Green MD at Green & Pleasant Events, Orson Francescone, MD at FT Live at Financial Times, Jessica Charles co-head ay Black Tomato Agency, Stuart Mason SVP commercial, revenue & distribution at Belmond and Fay Sharpe, founder of FastForward15.
The panel discussed a range of topics, starting with: why are there so few people from BAME (black, Asian minority ethnic) communities within our sector?
"Racism exists, so let’s get that on the table. It’s an issue that just isn’t going away. There is racism so I think we need to be 100 per cent clear about," Francescone said.
"Then there are structural issues in terms of economic background, access to education, that, of course, make it so much harder for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to climb the social ladder."
Sharpe referred to a survey she worked on with IMEX which found only 9 per cent of respondents identified as BAME and only 3.49 per cent of those identified as black. “That’s really low so I think we need to address why the pipeline is so low of potential BAME employees coming into events.”
The discussion then led onto how the industry can widen its recruitment pool with all the panellists agreeing that the sector needed to work harder to attract more people from within the BAME community.
"We have a 50/50 gender target on all candidates and a 25 per cent BAME shortlist target," Francescone said. "All of our candidate pools have to match those numbers. Targets are the only way you are going to make progress on this. Flexible working is another big thing – again creating that inclusive environment where you can get people from disadvantaged backgrounds who can’t necessarily come into London five days a week."
Mason added, "It’s not about positive discrimination and putting people into jobs who are not right for them. It’s about looking in different places to find people."
Suggestions of how diversity within the industry can be improved included having positive role models with more BAME representation at senior level and on industry associations.
The session also drew upon research conducted by McKinsey & Company that found having a diverse workforce increases competitive advantage and broadens ideas. Green added that “if your workforce is predominantly white and male, that’s only one set of ideas you are tapping into. In times like these, you have to diversify your business and you need a diverse workforce to do that.”
Francescone reinforced the fundamental need for data collection, transparency and governance when it comes to successfully achieving diversity and inclusion in your organisation.
"The more you collect data, the more you can know where you’re at. Then if you have data, you can set yourself goals."
He used the FT as an example of how data collection is aiding its mission to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. "The FT set themselves a goal of having 22 per cent BAME employees and we are at 18 per cent.
"[It] is about building an inclusive culture, which spans things like inclusive leadership training to setting up employee networks, so we have really strong LBGT, BAME community, and mental health networks."
Charles reminded the audience and the other panellists that, "it’s okay to admit that you are only just starting to do something about diversity now. It’s about moving forward and starting to make that change."
The next session, 'Micebook talks to industry voices - part 2' will be held on Wednesday 15 July. You can find more information here.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
