Equipping ourselves to foster diversity and inclusion

Brighton has always defined itself as a diverse, inclusive and welcoming city and community. The Equality and Inclusion Partnership was set up to ensure we’re putting talk into action and that we are doing whatever we can to reduce inequality. Working in partnership, we aim to engage with diverse communities across the city and promote and share good practice in inclusivity.

The partnership involves top representatives from diverse sectors across the city including Brighton and Hove City Council, local emergency services, and leading charities. We at Diversity and Ability are delighted to have the opportunity to represent Brighton Chamber in the partnership and make sure the interests and experiences of local businesses are vocalised, as well as allowing us to benefit from insider information about any upcoming adaptations and shifts in the city’s aims for increasing diversity and inclusion.

In our quarterly meetings, we discuss the most important social issues facing our city and develop initiatives to address them. So far in 2020 we’ve discussed improving disability access throughout Brighton & Hove, how we can enact Brighton & Hove’s goal of becoming an anti-racist city, and keeping our services and businesses safe for staff and visitors during the pandemic. In the most recent meeting, focus was shifted to an investigation into the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable or disadvantaged communities. The pandemic and related measures have disproportionately affected BAME communities, women, disabled people and other disadvantaged groups, and we have a shared responsibility to address this disadvantage and create practical solutions.

What’s more, the impact of COVID on businesses has not been ignored in these conversations, with discussions focused on how to support local businesses to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic; especially businesses that form part of disadvantaged communities, such as BAME or LGBTQ+ businesses and local organisations whose primary offering is face-to-face events.

As Brighton businesses we are reliant on engagement with our local communities, and we benefit massively from our city becoming as equal and inclusive as possible. As well as being the ‘right thing to do’, inclusivity means happier and more active residents, higher buying power, diverse and engaged visitors, and individuals who are empowered to make their own decisions about the companies they engage with. We deserve a seat at the table in discussions about how we can play our part in making this happen, and we deserve to know the changes and adaptations that are being implemented that will have a direct impact on us.

How can you share your thoughts?

The next quarterly meeting will take place on Wednesday, 20th January and we would love to hear from you. If you have a thought to share, an opinion on a local issue in Equality and Inclusion, or an experience to reflect on, please get in touch with us so we can make sure we are an accurate and effective voice on the issues that matter to you, and play our part in making Brighton a truly diverse and inclusive place.

Get in touch by emailing Emma Turner at workplace@diversityandability.com - we look forward to hearing from you.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk