Feature
Determined to level up , recruitment expert Robert Kenward got to work with Manchester Met University , Diversity Ally , Event First Steps and Mash Media to launch the scholarship programme REACH to get more encourage people from black , Asian , and minority ethnic backgrounds into the events industry .
What is REACH ? REACH stands for race , ethnicity and cultural heritage . The best way to describe it is a pledging initiative to assist black and brown and minority ethnic talent through their three year event management degree course at university with their cost of living . That works out as about £ 5,000 a year . It ’ s a vehicle that promotes that university and promotes underrepresented groups . It ’ s a medium-term pipeline into the industry to increase representation .
It isn ’ t about equality , it ’ s about equity .
How did REACH come about ? I have been a recruiter for more than 20 years , I can count on two hands the number of black , Asian , and minority ethnic event people I have worked with , and on one hand those at a senior level .
About 18 months ago , I was thinking , ‘ I know I ’ m a middle aged , middle class white man but why is no one doing anything about this ?’
The events industry lost thousands of people during the pandemic , some of those have come back and some never will .
Companies looking to fix their diversity try to recruit a black or brown face from another events company . But that is doing nothing for the level of diversity in the industry as a whole .
Then Gabby [ Austen-Browne , cofounder of Diversity Ally ], contacted me . That was a big part of my education , diversity and inclusion ( EDI ) journey .
Together with Diversity Ally and Event First Steps we launched by an industry taskforce to lead the scholarship initiative .
Reach for the stars
The Hub Jobs founder Robert Kenward tells Emily Wallin how being struck by the lack of diversity in the MICE , events and experiential sectors spurred him into action
Why is it important ? Why is it not important ? When I ’ m asked , I think it is one of those nobrainers . Less than 10 % of our industry is black or brown . That ’ s wrong .
It shouldn ’ t be like that . Our country isn ’ t like that . We have an underrepresented demographic and that has to change . It is not acceptable .
“ It isn ’ t about equality – it ’ s about equity .”
What difference will REACH ’ s scholarship money make to the lives of students ? It ’ s the difference between some kids going and some kids not .
These are kids that have already qualified , they are ready to come . The industry is an industry they want to get in to and the barrier that is turning them away is £ 5,000 a year . That ’ s a lot a money to a student and might be the difference between someone going to university or not .
I know a lot of companies have had a difficult couple of years but this is a legacy thing that can make a bit impact further down the line .
How does it work ? REACH is its own enterprise . No money goes through us . Events companies pledge funding to the scholarship programme . The universities have processes in place for how they award those grants and
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