A new partnership to support diversity in the technology sector within the Yorkshire region has been announced. IoT and smart city provider, Connexin, has partnered with UKBlackTech to increase and maintain representation within the company and the wider Yorkshire area by raising diversity awareness and providing opportunities to talent in the region.
The collaboration will support UKBlackTech in setting up a headquarters in the North and encourage regional organisations to come together to solve organisational, institutional, and economic problems. The partnership will also support local talent through educational collaborations and programmes to provide the region with more opportunities in the tech sector.
Phil Benson, Co-Founder & North area leader for UKBlackTech said: “We’re delighted to partner with Connexin here in the North. As a leader in the tech space and as an organisation that is championing diversity and innovation, they are the perfect partner for us and we’re excited to be working with them going forward.
“It’s important to highlight that diversity for businesses isn’t just about ticking a box or meeting a quota, it’s about recognising that if you’re providing or creating products and services and don’t have the right people in that process you are going to be behind the curve and left behind.
“By recognising that we have diverse communities and better understanding their differing needs and requirements allows businesses to innovate more productively and gain competitive advantage against those that don’t.”
UKBlackTech is an innovation group that aims to make the UK the most ethnically diverse tech ecosystem in the world, solving the world’s biggest problems through representation which will increase innovation and improve the outcomes for transformation. As a research-based organisation, it works to create information for organisations to help them bring new ideas and narrative into their conversations and promote the UK in being the foremost leader in tech through thought leadership and tackling problems in society through a diverse lens.
Furqan Alamgir, Founder & CEO of Connexin and winner in the Digital & Technology Category as part of the Inaugural Northern Asian Powerlist 2020 said: “At Connexin we stand for inclusivity and developing local talent here in Yorkshire. This partnership opens up the opportunity to further collaborate with other thought leaders in the area and drive further conversations around diversity and innovation to better tackle societal challenges.
“With a diverse team here at Connexin we know and have experienced first-hand the value of having internal stakeholders from different backgrounds and by engaging more organisations in this way of thinking it can only benefit the region and create further opportunities in tech to local talent, whatever their background.
“Inclusivity and diversity are well linked to innovation and creativity. As an organisation driven by these traits, we’re looking forward to working with the UKBlackTech team and bringing such opportunities to our region”
