REG Connect: Topics and Hosts for Breakout Sessions

Session 1: Breaking the Brown Glass Ceiling: Making Internal Leadership More Equitable
Facilitated by The Co-op Group & Aurora
Explores the systemic barriers preventing racially diverse professionals from reaching senior leadership roles and cocreates solutions for equitable career progression.

The goal is to develop practical strategies to accelerate the progression of racially diverse talent

Session 2: Procurement with Purpose: How Diverse SMEs Can Thrive in Corporate Supply Chains
Facilitated by Louise Harries & Made4Tech Global
A conversation between SME founders and supplier diversity leads exploring inclusive procurement and how to build strong corporate partnerships. The goal is to surface actionable strategies for improving access to inclusive procurement.

Session 3: Building Belonging and Pathways for Diverse Professionals
Facilitated by Bruntwood

Explores how to cultivate inclusive workplace cultures that support retention, progression and authenticity for racially diverse talent. The goal is to co-design solutions for creating workplaces where diverse professionals thrive.

Session 4: Breaking the Ethnic Business Ceiling: Strategies for Scalable Success in the North
Facilitated by The University of Salford & Aston University

Focuses on barriers facing racially marginalised entrepreneurs in the North and how to build inclusive regional ecosystems. The goal is to identify what’s needed for EM businesses to scale sustainably in the North.

Session 5: Unlocking Ethnic Minority Enterprise: Driving Growth Through Equity and Access
Facilitated by MHA & GC Business Finance

Spotlights finance and access to-capital barriers for ethnic minority enterprises and explores inclusive financial ecosystem models. The goal is to propose financial solutions that enable EM business growth and resilience.

Session 6: Supply Chains: Positioning Ethnic Minority Businesses for Major Contracts
Facilitated by IBM & MSDUK

Explores what it takes for EM businesses to win large-scale contracts and how corporates can shift procurement practices. The goal is to highlight key steps for EM suppliers to succeed in high value supply chains.