| Nahid Majid |
Chair |
| Dame Marlene Robottom |
Mulberry School |
| David Boyle |
Dunraven School |
| Gamini Gunawardena |
G2 Investments |
| Rohan Jayatileka |
Premiere Group |
| Adeeba Malik |
QED |
| Annmarie Dixon-Barrow |
Fullemploy |
| Charles Lauder |
Diversity Consultancy |
| Jo Thanki |
Hindu Forum |
| Rev Janet Murray |
Community Family Challengers Proj. |
| Jacqui Scharschmidt |
West Ham & Plaistow NDCP |
| Eric Samuel |
Food Enterprise Ltd |
| Eddie Quaynor |
Centre for Employment & Enterprise |
| Jaheer Khawaja |
Ramada |
| Jeremy Crook |
BTEG |
| Zahid Hamid Black |
Community Forum |
| Dina Mandalia |
Cambridge Ethnic Minority Forum |
| Ada Maduakoh | ProDiverse |
| Patricia Chale |
HR Consultant |
| Jane McLuckie-Townsend |
DWP |
| Ian Albert |
DWP |
| Ivan Corea |
DWP |
| Tess Wigwe |
DWP |
Apologies were received from Sheikh A Rahman (Davenant Centre>, Shafiur Rahman (NAFAS), ODPM; Indarjit Singh (Network of Sikh Organisations), Symon Sentain (Luton NRU), Jonathan Baldrey (Talent UK), Monica Coke (Advantage WM)
Nahid Majid welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Members were asked to identify skills and experiences that they were bringing into the group, and also identify issues that needed to be addressed within future meetings. She said she was very happy to see such a range of people with diverse skills and knowledge, which would be of great value in establishing the group as a real force for change.
The aim of the Group was to share ideas and experiences, and actively contribute and make a difference to the work of the Task Force. Nahid was keen to hear about how Group members wanted to get actively involved, and levels of involvement. Doing nothing would only lead to greater social exclusion.
The Stakeholder Group agreed the terms of reference as its working guide to activity.
Jane McLuckie-Townsend then set out the vision of the Strategy Unit Report:
“The report sets out the goal that, in ten years’ time, ethnic minority groups should no longer face disproportionate barriers to accessing and realising opportunities for achievement in the labour market.
Jane highlighted that the employment gap hasn’t changed over time. She set out the work of the lead Departments – Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department of Trade and Industry, Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – to address that gap through the recommendations in the Report.
Jane also covered the role of the Ethnic Minority Employment Division in DWP who have responsibility for the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target, support the Task Force and design DWP’s own ethnic minority strategy.
Discussion:
The Group discussed the following key issues:
Key Issues raised:
Next Steps:
It was agreed to develop a Work Programme in discussion with Task Force Secretariat and lead Departments. In order to make best use of the time and knowledge of stakeholders, working groups based under and around the three SU report themes will be established under theme leaders. The theme leaders may also act as Vice Chairs of the Group. Stakeholders will be asked to identify their main areas of interest.
It was agreed that the working groups will look at current issues being taken forward by the Task Force and at areas of good practice.
It was agreed to look at Education issues as the first area for consideration by the Building Employability working group. Other working groups proposed were on procurement and small business issues.
It was agreed that the wider Stakeholder Group will meet approximately every other month. Nahid asked members to complete a pro forma and return to Secretariat in terms of identifying skills and themes which they wished to focus upon.
It was agreed to circulate contact details to group members by the end of June.
Date of next meeting:
The aim is to hold the next meeting in July. Date and time will be circulated. Interest was expressed from stakeholders to host future meetings.