1. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: CEMESME Contribution of Ethnic Minority Employees to Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Ahsan Malik, Project Director Ahsan Malik, Project Director Open Days 2007 Brussels, October 2007

2. PRIAE (Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity) Leading Institute working in the area of ageing and ethnicity in UK and across Europe Only organisation that specialises in helping black and minority ethnic elders in UK and Europe Plays an essential role in policy, research, information and practice in the areas of: –Employment and Enterprise –Health, social care and housing –Pensions –Quality of life Contributes to key policy developments that positively affect ethnic minority communities

3. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce RESEARCH AIM: Does an ethnically diverse workforce improve business performance in SMEs? Focuses on the demand side – want to demonstrate to employers the important contribution which ethnic minorities can bring to the workplace KEY QUESTIONS (Questionnaire): How are the managerial characteristics linked to diversity practices? What is the impact of workforce diversity on the SMEs financial and export performance?

4. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce HOW DO WE WANT TO USE THIS RESEARCH?: Understand the commercial / business benefits to SMEs of a diverse multi-cultural workforce Support SMEs in their efforts to realise the business benefits for diversity Inform UK and EU policy makers in their design of relevant policies NOTE: Chosen exports, international activities, finances of SMEs as key indicators of performance

5. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce RESEARCH RESULTS / POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: Significant connection between ethnic diversity and business performance Ethnic diverse SMEs – more aware of new markets More dialogue between white and ethnic minority SMEs Need for compliance of legislation: more proactive inclusion of diversity issues (age, ethnicity, gender, etc) in business strategies Diversity is not a concern for SMEs – they dont see the connection Conventional approaches to mainstreaming diversity in SMEs maybe counter productive. Need for the business case

6. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce PRACTICAL STEPS TO ASSIST SMEs: 1) Personalised International Mentoring Programme –Gain projects from SMEs to develop international activities –Place professional postgraduates into UK firms (of international background) –Postgraduates are Mentoring the Managers –Indirectly bringing awareness to Managers of the benefits of having a diverse workforce – business case for diversity 2) Training Seminars on diversity 3) Distance learning material (CD-ROM) on how to implement diversity in the SME – focused on the business case Transnational activities – Joint Publication

7. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce WAY FORWARD: Mainstream / disseminate our work on a UK and EU level Increased sample size of SMEs questioned Work with other countries on how we can bring our model to their country Look at other forms of diversity and how it relates to business performance e.g. gender, age, etc Case studies / promotion of the business case of diversity Funding assistance

8. UNTAPPED RESOURCES: The Opportunities of an Ethnically Diverse Workforce THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS? AHSAN MALIK ahsan.malik@priae.org