UK to Host Europe’s Largest Ethnic Minority Supplier Diversity Conference

Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK) and the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP) announce the final opportunity to register for 2024 Business Diversity Connect, the largest ethnic minority business (EMB) supplier diversity conference in the Europe. Taking place from September 18-19, 2024, at the QEII Centre in London, this event will bring together industry leaders, diversity advocates and EMBs to celebrate and promote the importance of inclusive procurement. Attendees can now sign up here: Business Diversity Connect.

Hosted by MSDUK and ESDP, organisations dedicated to advancing supplier diversity and inclusion across the UK and Europe, the event marks their first joint conference focusing on Ethnic minorities. It will feature knowledge panel forums, fireside chats, roundtables, innovation challenges, and business shows aimed at creating a more equitable business environment through advocacy, support, and partnerships.

Reshma Sheikh, Managing Director of MSDUK, commented on the importance of this year’s event, stating, “This conference comes at a time when far-right rhetoric has gained traction and there’s notable pushback against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. Recent race-related incidents in the UK have also exposed systemic challenges faced by minority communities. The conference aims to counter these trends by showcasing the remarkable contributions of ethnic minority-owned businesses and demonstrating how increased supplier diversity can foster sustainable practices and drive economic growth.”

Major highlights of this year’s event include the Innovation Challenge Finals and Awards, where twelve finalists, selected from over 300 entries from the UK & Europe, will present their innovative ideas and solutions with winners receiving a £20,000 cash prize. As well as the Business Show, which will feature corporate partners and minority-owned businesses, showcasing their services and creating opportunities for connections and potential business growth.

Participants will also benefit from expert-led workshops and panel discussions on topics such as “The Future of Supplier Diversity,” “EY Sustainability Workshop,” and “Funding Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses in Europe.”

The event will conclude with an awards ceremony, recognising the achievements of businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to supplier diversity and inclusion. Award categories include “Corporate of the Year,” “Emerging Corporate Supplier Diversity Programme of the Year,” and ” High Growth Business of the Year”.

Lushentha Naidoo, Managing Director at ESDP, commented, “This event represents a critical step forward in enhancing supplier diversity throughout the UK and Europe. Our research highlights that there are approximately 800,000 minority-owned businesses across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and Ireland alone, employing 2.7 million people and generating €570 billion in turnover. Yet only one percent of corporate spending currently goes to minority communities, so it’s high time we recognise and spotlight these vital contributors to robust and resilient economic growth.”

This event is supported by EY as the Knowledge Forum Sponsor and Accenture as the Innovation Challenge Sponsor.