As part of its education and partnership role with British nations and cities, VisitBritain has partnered with pro-social organisation, New Intent, to launch its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Pathway – supporting the understanding and deeper implementation of DEI across workplaces and in event design.
Launching on 20 September 2023, the online guide aims to provide wider definitions and best practices for British partners in understanding DEI. It will explore the relevance within event transformation and offers practical advice to support organisations and event teams to accelerate positive change.
Paul Black (pictured), head of business events, VisitBritain, said: “The events industry has a fundamental role to play in ensuring everybody feels welcome, represented and valued. Understanding and further embedding DEI into event design offers the potential to accelerate important ambitions within the industry as well as developing stronger communities, increase participation and generate more meaningful connections.”
Rory Archibald, founder of New Intent, added: “Embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not just a choice; building a brighter, more inclusive future for our industry and society is necessary. Events that embrace DEI embrace innovation and collaboration and can break down barriers that lead to enriched communities worldwide.”
The bigger picture
The launch of the DEI Pathway follows a series of ‘Future of Events’ educational masterclasses for city convention bureaus, created by the Business Events team at VisitBritain. This includes sustainability toolkits and hosting roundtables, in partnership with GDS-Movement and isla, which support regions and cities on their journey towards planning and hosting more environmentally friendly events.
The series also features a ‘Legacy and Impact’ Toolkit that was released in September 2022 in partnership with MEET4IMPACT, helping CVBs work with their clients to identify and develop impactful strategies when hosting events, whilst continuing to make more sustainable choices. This was followed by a six-month educational series, hosted in partnership with both GDS-Movement and MEET4IMPACT, for cities, large convention centres and congress organisers to further understand and implement these learnings.
