University of Suffolkl puts the focus on business at the Waterfront this week

Staff and students from the Suffolk Business School at the University of Suffolk will be celebrating diversity in business at this year’s Suffolk Business Festival which is being held this week, until Friday October 28.

During the week, a host of activities will encourage participants to rethink gender issues, celebrate the contribution of Suffolk’s BME businesses and embrace the potential of enterprise as a force for good and a welcome is extended to all those wanting to participate in these events.

A ‘mystery tour’ will complete the week, where students will travel across the County to visit local businesses and meet the people that run them.

James Hollings, now in his second year studying BA (Hons) Business Management says “Last year’s Business Festival was a great way to hear more from local businesses – it’s a great innovation and really adds value to my course.”

Dr Will Thomas, Deputy Head of the Suffolk Business School added: “We believe that management education cannot happen without partnership and cooperation between the University and Business. The Festival is a wonderful way to celebrate this work and to bring students, staff and the business community together to discuss topics of mutual interest.”

The University will be hosting Suffolk’s first Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Business Awards, providing the County with a chance to recognise and celebrate the contribution and successes of businesses owned and operated by those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. This is on Wednedday evebubg,

Another highlight of the week is the Gender Re-agenda lunch, ‘#GROW’, co-hosted with the Institute of Directors, which aims to revisit the issue of gender in the workplace focussing on developing talent and supporting business growth.

Laura Locke, Senior Lecturer in the Suffolk Business School has organised the GROW event: “It’s important that the University plays its part in proposing solutions and supporting change in the workplace. Gender balance has been identified as supporting success in every organisation so we hope that this event will help to shape a new agenda for discussion and action.”

Businesses and members of the public are welcome at events throughout the week, all of which are free-of-charge. For more information and to book please visit https://www.uos.ac.uk/events/suffolk-business-festival-2016