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ETHNIC BUSINESS ADVANCES TO BE EXPLORED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE


1st September 2008 

The UK’s benchmark conference on ethnic minority business development, led by experts at De Montfort University (DMU), takes place in Leicester this autumn.


Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory reform, will open the 12th annual Ethnic Minority Business Conference.


Organised by DMU’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) and hosted by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the regional Business Link service, the conference will be held on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October 2008.


This year’s theme is ‘Everybody’s Business: Advancing Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship.’


More than 150 delegates are expected to attend including ethnic minority business owners, business agencies and intermediaries, employer groups, the corporate sector and local authorities.


The conference will showcase important themes such as the role of the Corporate Sector, Regional Perspectives on Business Support, Engaging Higher Education Institutions and Women’s Entrepreneurship. The second day of the event will be devoted to Supplier Diversity.


Professor Monder Ram is Director of CREME at DMU’s Leicester Business School and an internationally acclaimed researcher on small and ethnic minority businesses.


Professor Ram said: “Ethnic minority businesses can make a significant contribution to local communities and to the wider economy. This conference has been instrumental in showcasing the commitment of large organisations to supplier diversity and was among the first to provide a platform for such initiatives. It is a great opportunity for business owners, practitioners and policymakers to share experiences and access the latest research.”


Laura-Jane Franklin, Business Support Diversity Manager within emda’s Business Services directorate said: “emda is delighted that the Ethnic Minority Business Conference has returned to the East Midlands. The region has a vibrant and diverse community and emda is passionate about helping ethnic businesses to grow and to play their full part in contributing to the region’s economic growth.”


Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation that delivers the Business Link service, said: “As an organisation, our aim is to provide help and support for businesses to start, grow and succeed in the East Midlands.  Our advisers are available to help with a wide range of issues and Business Link brokers solutions for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors.  Many ethnic minority businesses have benefited from working with us and we want even more to join them."


The conference will be held at the Best Western Leicester Stage Hotel.


A Gala Dinner takes place on the Wednesday evening with a keynote address by Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Chairman of Noon Products Ltd. The dinner, sponsored by Barclays, is expected to attract around 200 guests.


To book a place or for more information contact Liz Frost, Conference Co-ordinator, on tel: 0116 250 6428 email: efrost@dmu.ac.uk or see www.creme-dmu.org.uk

 

Notes to editors
For more information please call De Montfort University’s Press Office on 0116 250 6244.