Gabrielle Austen-Browne, founder of Diversity Alliance, chats about the REACH scholarship and how it is instilling DEI in new industry talent.
The events industry is a vibrant, dynamic and rewarding sector to work in. So why are we finding it so hard to source and attract diverse talent?
Just over a year ago, some passionate industry professionals and I came together to look at how we could contribute to addressing issues around diversity in the industry talent pipeline. These conversations led to the REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) scholarship fund for event management students. One year on, we are delighted that the first recipients of the REACH scholarship have begun their events management degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Already, the scholarship has made a difference in the lives of students. Thanks to the support of DRPG, TRO, Identity and Mash Media among others, six Black, Asian and minority ethnic students received £90,000 worth of pledges to help them with their living costs while studying for their event management degrees. By supporting this initiative, donors are making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged students and playing an active role in the recipients’ development while contributing to the industry’s positive change.
The initiative has been so successful that the University of Hertfordshire has expressed their delight in being a part of it for the next year. Shonali Devereaux, lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire in Events Management and Tourism, said: “Being able to offer REACH scholarships aligns with our work in reducing obstacles to academic success and most importantly will allow for greater diversity of future event professionals.”
Be the change
However, there is still more work to be done, and the initiative is seeking two more donors for this year’s intake to the University of Hertfordshire.
One of our 2024 donors, emc3, said: “We wanted to be involved with the REACH scholarship initiative to provide assistance at the beginning of a student’s journey to full-time employment in the event industry. As a team, we are committed to increasing diversity within the events industry, and this initiative will help with that – enabling students from diverse backgrounds to complete their courses. As a result, we have committed to donating to the REACH initiative over the next three years and thank Robert and Gabby for the opportunity to be involved.”
The events industry is a rewarding sector, but it’s crucial that it becomes more diverse and inclusive to represent the national figures. The REACH scholarship fund is a fantastic example of industry professionals taking action to address this issue. By supporting this initiative, donors can help create a more diverse and inclusive events industry, ensuring that it is accessible to all talented individuals, regardless of their background. So, will you be the change that the events industry needs?
