UPDATE Monday 16th March 5pm: EVENT CANCELLED
On behalf of the BME Employment and Skills Steering Group, we’d like to let you know that after much deliberation, we have taken the decision to cancel the BME Employment and Skills Fair event on Wed 18th March.
Although a challenging decision, the steering group felt that in the current COVID-19 climate, we must ensure we are taking responsible action – taking into account the most up to date guidance, as well ensuring we are acting in the best interests of our communities.
We have experienced a number of queries from stall holders, about whether the event is still going ahead. As many of the general public are being increasingly encouraged to socially isolate themselves, particularly those most at risk in the BME communities, as well as professionals who are not front line workers and in light of guidance that is becoming increasingly restrictive, we feel it would be a prudent measure to postpone the event for the safety and wellbeing for all of our participants, at this time.
We want to thank you for your commitment to the project and will keep you informed of decisions going forward.
On Wednesday 18th March we will be working with the Black & Minority Ethnic Community Partnership (BMECP) to hold a BAME Employment and Skills Fair. This will be a chance for people from diverse backgrounds, including refugee and migrant, to talk face to face with prospective employers.
Employers will be showcasing opportunities to job seekers from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. The aim is to develop confidence and share awareness of opportunities, between employers and applicants from BAME communities.
At the fair we will also be launching our new Quality Mark for employers in Brighton & Hove.
The event is FREE but please book online here so we know how many people to expect. Eventbrite tickets here →
BAME Employment Fair
Wednesday 18th March, 4-8pm
BMECP Centre, 10a fleet street, Brighton, BN1 4ZE
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How did the BAME Employment Fair come about?
This Employment Fair is part of a piece of work which has been going on for the past few years. In October 2016 research commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council and undertaken by the Ottaway group was published. Entitled ‘Race Equality of Employment & Skills in the City’. The Ottaway report made a series of 14 recommendations to help create a better environment that offers increased opportunities for people from BAME backgrounds to find paid employment and acquire skills that will improve job and career prospects. Following the Ottaway research, in 2018 TDC conducted the Employment and Skills Consultation to explore what role BAME led and/or focused Third Sector, Community & Voluntary Organisations and services could contribute towards addressing the need for employment skills and training for BAME communities.
The BME Employment and Skills project, initiated in July 2019, is the result of TDC’s consultation. It is a partnership led by TDC, working with BMECP and funded by BHCC Collaboration Funding.
The project is led by individuals and organisations from the targeted communities with a view to create a platform for BME led organisations to develop new ways of working and establish a collective approach to address concerns. The recruitment of steering groups members for the project was completed in September 2019. Six BME led organisations agreed to participate in the project and they form the project’s steering group. The steering group wanted to recognise structural and institutional barriers identified by the Ottaway report and not limit the focus and responsibility to the BME 3rd sector organisations and BME people.
The steering group decided to work on developing a Race Equality Quality Mark for employers willing to proactively remove barriers to employment and training opportunities for BME people. This would involve reviewing their own practices and building sustainable links with BME 3rd Sector and community organisations. The Race Equality Quality Mark that can be adopted by employers and reviewed regularly. The partnership (BME Employment and skills project steering group; BMECP and TDC) will be seeking opportunities and funding to continue this work beyond the 9 months of the initial project.
The project has developed links with key projects and organisations working with BME communities in the city e.g.The Hummingbird Refugee Project Brighton; The Migrant English Project; Voices in Exile; Migrant ESOL Support Hub(MESH); Sussex Interpreting Services; Vandu language Service and the Hangleton & Knoll Project. The project has also engaged key Employers in the city (primarily from Public and Private sectors) e.g. BHCC (Communities, Equality & Third Sector Team); BHCC (Human Resources & Organisational Development); Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group; NHS Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG; NHS Hastings and Rother CCG; Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups; BHCC(Chamber of Commerce); Sussex Police; American Express and Brighton Business Improvement District.
The project has also planned the delivery of two workshops to consult on the draft Race Equality Quality Mark in advance of the employment fair, asking employers and potential employees how they think the Quality Mark should look. Please join us at one of these events and help us shape the way organisations in our city :
- Workshop 1 – for individuals from BAME communities, to be held on 25th February 2020, 4-7pm Register here →
- Workshop 2 – for employers, to be held on 27th February 2020, 2-4pm Register here →
The Employment & Skills Fair on 18th March will signify the official launch of the Quality Mark. The Fair will be an opportunity for members of BME communities and employers to meet and learn about job and training opportunities. It will bring together participants from both workshops, and wider BME communities, to have a face-to-face conversation, with employers, network and share opportunities. Employers are encouraged to have an information stall. The Fair will be during the week leading up to UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (on 21st March).