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CEMESME – Contribution of ethnic minority employees to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
To challenge racial discrimination and promote racial equality in employment
“Every effort to promote racial equality and challenge discrimination deserves full and wholehearted support. I am particularly impressed by the CEMESME project and fully support the approach of focusing on the ‘demand’ side of the problem by demonstrating to employers the important contribution which ethnic minorities bring to the workplace. This work is very important and rightly deserves the fullest possible support. I wish CEMESME every possible success.” The Rt Hon Peter Mandelson PC, member of the European Commission and EU Trade Commissioner
“In today’s deeply diverse and ethnically rich workforce, CEMESME’s core values are crucial in promoting equal opportunities and making the corporate culture of British firms more aware of diversity and internationalisation issues in the workplace. I am thrilled to be associated with this important initiative from PRIAE.” Founder and chief executive of the famous Cobra Beer, Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, who is also chairman of the National Employment Panel for the SMEs Board and a member of CEMESME’s advisory board
This European Social Fund-supported project concentrates on employment, enterprise and the corporate culture of British small and medium sized firms regarding diversity in the workplace. It does not aim to prove racism but to clarify the implications of diversity management on the firm’s general business performance, especially on the SME’s internationalism.
CEMESME has formed links with UK and European partners including organisations in France, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and Lithuania. The UK partners are the Commission for Racial Equality, UK Trade and Investment, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, University of Central Lancashire and Middlesbrough Council.
Its main objectives are:
- To promote employment of the ethnic minority workforce in the UK and Europe
- To work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity
- To encourage good relations between people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds
- To clarify the positive implications of workforce diversity management on the firm’s business performance
- To disseminate good practice on inclusion of ethnic minority employees
- To make the corporate culture of British firms more sensitive to diversity
What makes this project different?
Schemes promoting the employment of ethnic minorities have mainly focused on training and on improving the job skills of their participants through a variety of guidance activities. These projects have concentrated on the ethnic minority employees and on making them more appealing to employers by improving their skill base. CEMESME takes an approach that has not been fully considered by concentrating on the 'demand' side of the problem and demonstrating to employers the important contribution ethnic minorities make to UK firms through their personal resources including culture. By demonstrating this positive impact on business performance, the case for British firms to employ ethnic minority works will be strengthened.
The Research
CEMESME’s research is linked to international business and marketing management. It involves concept groups related to firm and managerial characteristics, the diversity orientation of the firm, business intelligence, business strategy, and the potential barriers and dynamics faced by the firm. In addition, it studies how the ethnic diversity level within the firm influences each of these areas and the overall performance of the firm.
Training
CEMESME focuses on diversity awareness and international business training. Courses are usually aimed at SME managerial staff who would like to make their firm’s corporate culture more sensitive to diversity issues while improving their internationalism and performance.
Mentoring
CEMESME offers personalised marketing mentoring. With the support of academic staff from various universities in the UK, the skills of experienced British ethnic minority and overseas postgraduate students are used to research specific international business projects for interested SMEs.
Distance learning materials
CEMESME produces distance learning materials on international business and diversity related issues which are supported and supplemented by a number of special computer-aided learning packages and the latest Multimedia and Internet technologies. Specialised CD-ROM packages are produced and distributed regularly to SMEs.
CEMESME FLYER (4.2MB Adobe Acrobat PDF)
CEMESME project is an important avenue for helping to prevent persistent unemployment and/or to illuminate the experience of glass ceiling at an earlier life. Prevention of this can foster increased financial security and better health in old age. CEMESME opens up the experiences of life course in ageing and gives much information on BME elders’ clear statements to PRIAE that, ‘in young age they experience race discrimination; in old age they experience race and age discrimination, but race is often stronger’ (PRIAE’s report to the DTI on age discrimination).
For more information on the CEMESME project, please contact
Project Director: ahsan.malik@priae.org
Research Officer: akja.karajakulova@priae.org
Tel: +44 (0) 113 2855990
Fax: +44 (0) 113 2855999
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