Conversation, challenge and culture change were on the agenda during a packed afternoon of practical insights and honest reflections of the value of diversity in business.
Leicestershire Business Voice, which represents more than 100 businesses across the city and county, teamed up with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) for an event exploring how inclusive workplaces are not just “the right thing to do” but a business imperative.
Leaders from a range of sectors including recruitment, manufacturing, technology and careers shared the stories and secrets to developing a culture that works for everyone.
The panel, which was moderated by Sarah Thomson, DMU’s Principal Partnership Officer, included Kate Lee, from Samworth Brothers; Eileen Richards from ER Recruitment; Rachel Tidmarsh from Bluesky International Ltd; Angela Orton, of Structural Adhesives Ltd; Nick Megson, from Abacus Flooring Solutions and Robyn Kenney, of DMU’s Careers Team.
The event was put together by Sandra Wiggins, LBV Board Director and CEO of Women On Boards CIC, as part of the business network’s “Super Six” series run with the Universities Partnership.
She said: “I know all the people on this panel, I know how their businesses operate. I wasn’t going to have anyone who didn’t walk the talk – these people live and breathe their business values, they were the perfect people. It has been a fascinating panel to hear from.”
Discussions included exploring what was meant by diversity, and how it was often broader than people thought; the challenges of creating open, safe spaces at work, and avoiding the “language paralysis” which can stop progress.
Angela Orton, whose company Structural Adhesives was one of this year’s recipients for The King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, said workforce culture was the foundation stone for leaders of all businesses.
She added: “It’s integral. It cuts clear through everything, whether you run a business or if you are starting a business, culture should be at the top of your list. It determines your values, how you expect your team to behave and how they see their colleagues and your company.”
Eileen Richards, of ER Recruitment, said: “Events like today are crucial because they create space for honest conversations that drive real change. In recruitment, we see firsthand how diverse teams fuel innovation, attract talent, and reflect the communities businesses serve.
“These discussions aren’t just important, they’re essential to building resilient, future-ready organisations.”
DMU’s Robyn Kenney shared examples of how university students had worked with companies to assess recruitment adverts and messaging to help them understand what would make it attractive to graduate talent.
“It was such a great event people could have carried on the discussions all day. I think it shows the importance of having these challenging conversations as a business community and how as leaders it’s all about the culture that you create. When organisations focus on culture first, diversity of thought and perspective follow.”
Posted on Monday 14 July 2025