Supplier Diversity & Inclusion - Institutional visit EP/EC
2023-11-29
East meets West, as the founding member of EGLCC - The European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce, joined the institutional visit to Brussels and met with representatives of European Parliament and European Comission. Pavel Subrt brought with him the attention to one effective contribution towards increasing social acceptance of LGBTIQ people in business environments: inclusive procurement (also referred to as Supplier diversity & inclusion).
(Vera Jourova - Vice-president of the EC, East meets West, EPBN, EDGE, Pride Business Forum, Network, L’Autre, BGLBC)
Though relatively new in Europe, inclusive procurement (also referred to as Supplier diversity & inclusion) provides an effective contribution towards increasing social acceptance of LGBTIQ people in business environments.
Supplier diversity & inclusion programs activate growth opportunities by connecting LGBTIQ businesses with private and public sector organisations who value stronger inclusiveness and diversity in their supply chain and have a high potential for improving the business environment conditions of SMEs owned or operated by LGBTIQ people.
Benefits of diverse & inclusive supply chains include: increased competition and innovation, reduced socio-economic inequality, economic prosperity and job growth, stronger and more sustainable communities.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Europe's economy. They represent 99% of all businesses in the EU. They employ around 100 million people, account for more than half of Europe’s GDP and play a key role in adding value in every sector of the economy.
EGLCC, The European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce, estimates there are around 1,5 mio LGBTIQ owned SMEs across the EU.
LGBTIQ entrepreneurs tend to struggle with huge disadvantages: discrimination, disconnection from mainstream business networks and disproportionate levels of doubt. Research shows that in the EU, the average 26% of LGBTIQ hide their sexual orientation or gender identity at work (with some countries reaching 50%).
While large (global) corporates are increasingly embracing inclusive procurement and run Supplier diversity & inclusion programs, the EU can also help:
In order for the EU to further promote equality, encourage integration, boost economic growth and help achieve broader EU objectives such as shifting to a net-zero-emissions economy, the EU should foster inclusive procurement in inclusive entrepreneurship policies and recognise minority entrepreneurship in the EU institutional structure.
Inclusive procurement should also extend the agenda of the EU Platform of Diversity Charters, which coordinates the activities of Diversity Charters at Member State level.
Extend research work around LGBTIQ to include important and currently missing data as well as validate current assumptions and insights from business networks on LGBTIQ owned businesses
Next to the EU’s motto “United in Diversity”, which links well to the aims of inclusive procurement, promoting equality, encouraging integration, boosting economic growth are among EU priorities.
While the EU has long promoted inclusive entrepreneurship policies, one gap that needs filling is the lack of initiatives to encourage inclusive procurement: positive action to help SMEs owned by people from disadvantaged and under-represented groups – such as LGBTIQ, women and ethnic minorities, overcome the obstacles they face in winning contracts to supply EU institutions, other public bodies and large corporates, and thus achieve greater equality of treatment.
Inclusive procurement will enable buyers and the EU economy as a whole to tap on the benefits of more diverse, resilient, innovative and cost-competitive supply chains.
The institutional visit was a joint effort of EGLCC (European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce) and EPBN (European Pride business Network).
Value the great welcome and attention of all our meeting partners and hosts: Vera Jourova (Vice President EC), Marc Angel (Vice President EP and co-chair of LGBTI Intergroup at the European Parliament), Irene Tinagli (MEP) and Francesco Schmidt (DG Employment). Thank you for hosting us 🙏.
About EGLCC, The European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce
EGLCC is the European advocacy group for LGBTIQ-owned businesses. Building on outreach of its local and regional chambers, EGLCC activates opportunities for growth by connecting the LGBTIQ businesses with corporations who value stronger inclusiveness and diversity in their supply chain.
Founded in 2019, its local and regional business chambers now include (status 11/2023): Germany (GGLBC), BeNeLux (BGLBC), France (L’Autre), Italy (EDGE), Spain (REDI), Scandinavia (SGLCC) and Central & Eastern Europe (East meets West).