PROCUREMENT WITH A PURPOSE
INSPIRING ACTION
Gabrielle Austen-Browne , founder of Diversity Alliance and co-founder of Diverse Speaker Bureau , says talks the venues events industry and DEI must turn its DEI commitment into action
n recent times , companies have become hyper aware of the need to demonstrate uring ‘ twixmas social ’ ( that time responsibility in between and are Christmas turning their focus and towards New Year how they where can we become more are in socially limbo ), sustainable I took the through time to reflect DEI projects on 2022 and and initiatives what I that hoped are to designed achieve in to 2023 promote . I chose social good to write . down my observations and condense However , them this can down be to especially single
challenging words . The words for venues that , resonated particularly historical the most venues were : ‘ inspire who may ’ and have links ‘ action to ’, Britain so they ’ s colonial are my goals past for who 2023 may , to have ‘ inspire limitations action ’. with regards A recent to accessibility study highlighted , to that implement the UK and DEI Ireland in customer-facing
are behind other
ways countries . Diversity when Alliance it comes have to been working addressing with and venues implementing
, helping them to diversity integrate , equity achievable and inclusion and
( DEI ). impactful The commitment
DEI strategies is there
.
, but many just Most don recently ’ t know , where we worked to start with and
{ more 10-11 importantly } Carlton House
, how Terrace to monitor
, helping progress them and to stay refresh on track their
. It ’ s a procurement shame that we process are more to reflect today pessimistic
’ s world in by how enabling we perceive greater
DEI progress in our own companies , supplier diversity . We supported with nearly 50 % saying they don ’ t them to create a supplier diversity feel like their company is making programme and a supplier commitment statement to encourage their partners and current suppliers to consider their own DEI commitments .
Some suppliers who haven ’ t historically been given the opportunity to work in these types of venues won ’ t always be aware of
“ We There highly is an appetite to be
recommend education
more diverse , around equitable and understanding
inclusive , a biases keenness in to general implement , with DEI emphasis in a meaningful on knowledge
and impactful gaps way .” on biases in procurement .”
Gabrielle Austen-Browne
enough progress , despite the moral imperative and business case for DEI being very strong ( source : get workable . com ).
Take the processes action , operations and Working general nuances with multiple of a venue clients , so and speaking this requires on many providing panels support about to DEI has help demonstrated them make it through to me that tender there , is then an supporting appetite to them be more through diverse , equitable RFPs if required and inclusive . If they , win and the a keenness business , to we implement advise on how
DEI in best a meaningful to thrive in delivery and impactful and service way . Now
, it so ’ s that time we to don move
’ t inadvertently on from set discussing less experienced the issues suppliers and up for highlighting failure . the challenges and take Imogen action Steinberg instead . , To venue help , sales I have and front of house spent time manager developing at ideas to { 10-11 } Carlton House Terrace encourage said , “ we view supplier diversity more decisive as a strategic business mission action , one of and an integral component of our those being DEI strategy . Our commitment to the this mission reinforces our visions development of and values while visibly a DEI hackathon demonstrating our support for style workshop , equal access and business giving agency opportunities .” to decision makers and individual www . conference-news . co . uk contributors .
11 Column
The first of which we delivered at IBTM World in 2022 , with three others taking place in 2023 .
It ’ s not all doom and gloom though , we are starting to put the work in as an industry to fix this , with initiatives such as the Fast Forward From experience 15 mentorship , before programme beginning the , Racial work Diversity of building a Ambassadors pool of diverse , the suppliers launch , venues of the Association and venue teams of Black need Event to become Professionals culturally aware , addressing and culturally diversity in knowledgeable the talent pipeline . Taking through part in the REACH workshops scholarship to understand fund , and the progress challenges being and made opportunities in regard to accessibility around DEI for at their events venue . for
clients I ’ ve also , suppliers been lucky and other enough to work stakeholders with and , be and inspired collaborating by to
companies decide on DEI and priorities events including , is the incredibly Queen ’ useful s Platinum . Jubilee Pageant In addition , supporting , most of [ 10-11 us } Carlton recognise House we have Terrace biases ’ s . commitment These biases to , although supplier diversity and unintentional the Harkin , impact Summit supply , held at chain the ICC activities Belfast . This , which is why recently also we won ‘ highly Best DEI recommend at a Conference education Award ’ at the around ABPCO understanding Excellence Awards biases . in I look general forward , with to emphasis seeing more on initiatives knowledge and gaps events on biases like these in in the procurement future . . The education
element I ’ m also is delighted also incredibly that Diversity Alliance important has when partnered it comes with to being
International able to articulate Confex the to ‘ why deliver not the ’ People when implementing and Culture theater DEI . This this year .
We knowledge have created and understanding content that doesn also helps
’ t just with highlight being issues able to we have authentically heard many connect times with in previous diverse discussions suppliers and
, instead clients , the . focus is on
‘ what Although next ’ by the taking moral advice reasons from experts for doing and this inspiration work are from important those
, who have already begun to put DEI supplier DEI initiatives can make into practice at work and in their a significant difference to a events . We will be covering topics brand reputation , brand loyalty such as ‘ diversity hushing ’, how to and client satisfaction , which take a client ’ s DEI strategy and ultimately can increase a agenda and translate it into a truly companies ’ revenues . accessible event , a diversity and Supplier diversity also can inclusion in action case study and affect change from a how to evolve the events industry socio-economic perspective . through next generation talent , with
This is where the equity comes the goal being to ‘ inspire action ’. in DEI . CN
Let ’ s change our current global standing and have the UK and Ireland be the best when it comes to DEI . CN