Boosting growth through a focus on diversity.
At VentureFest North East 2017 we started to explore issues linked to a lack of gender diversity in business. The failure to engage, support and recognise the value of women has been identified time and time again as a key barrier to business growth, regional growth and investment opportunities. Since announcing our Women in Innovation programme in partnership with Innovate UK, the North East England Chamber of Commerce and the Northstar Foundation, we’ve been working with SMEs from across the region to look at how businesses can tackle an unconscious bias to maximise business growth.
What to expect: In the first of a two-part focus on diversity in innovation, the session will be led with a keynote by Dr Margo Thomas who will draw on her experience at the World Bank Group and UN to unpick the importance of diversity in business. The session will examine how more diverse business practice could significantly improve regional productivity and economic growth.