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Chamber seeks views of Walsall businesses

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to Walsall businesses – and their employees – to help it understand and shape a regional response to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

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Neil Anderson

The chamber wants to hear from anyone running their own business in Walsall, or working for a business in the town, for a project which will provide a regional overview of how Walsall businesses are responding to the inclusion agenda and needs of a diverse workforce and community.

The project, commissioned by Walsall for All and the Department for Work and Pensions, will encompass a Walsall Business Diversity and Inclusion Conference whilst encouraging local businesses to pledge ongoing support to further their work in this area.

Neil Anderson, director of external affairs at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, explained: “The chamber plays a pivotal role for businesses to better understand how they can respond to many different challenges and opportunities in order to be productive.

“Diversity and inclusion have been hot topics for many in business for a number of years with many unsure about what they need to do and how they can get it right. 2020 was an unprecedented year for businesses across many areas with Covid-19, the Black Lives Matters movement and Brexit continuing to shine a spotlight on policies and practices.

“Fundamentally, an organisation which is representative of its customers and communities is good for business.”

As a thank you for their participation, any businesses taking part will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win one of two fully funded places on a forthcoming management development programme (worth over £2,000) and any individuals completing an employee survey, the chance to win £250 worth of retail vouchers.

Both surveys can be found via the chamber website at https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/campaigns-projects/walsall-diversity-project/

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