STUDENT OUTREACH

Research shows that the gap between attainment and success is closely tied to the availability and accessibility of opportunities. Data reveals that even when students of African and Caribbean descent outperform their peers, they are still less likely to access appropriate jobs and careers due to their ethnicity.

We collaborate with companies looking to strengthen and implement their racial inclusion initiatives in practical ways. Whether through co-designed and facilitated events, consultation and guidance around potential barriers to entry, or by marketing and outreach support alone, we improve the ability of companies to connect with a highly capable but underrepresented pool of academically talented young people, helping you to diversify your student and early years outreach activities, and workforce thereafter.

“It has been fantastic to work with ACEN to promote the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). Our aim was to encourage more applications from Black students to the NGDP. ACEN helped us to achieve this through using their networks, mailing lists and a social media campaign to raise awareness of the programme. Aisha was easy to work with and was in regular contact to update us on the progress of the campaign up until the closing date”

Some of the companies we have worked with include:

RACIAL INCLUSION TALKS & WORKSHOPS

With an average feedback score of 9.4 out of 10, we offer tailored racial inclusion talks designed to deepen understanding of racial equality and equity movements, both historically and present day. A crucial aspect of our training is addressing social and mainstream media talking points, guiding participants from debate to meaningful dialogue grounded in evidence. While much of the focus is on the experiences of minoritised groups, the training is primarily aimed at empowering institutions and non-minoritised individuals to recognise, advocate for, and equitably consider the experiences of all groups, and it is widely praised for creating a safe space for open discussions and questions.

Our talks begin with an introduction to key elements of Black British history, helping attendees contextualise current racial movements and the structural factors that underpin them. This is paired with a compelling business, CSR, and social case for inclusion, ensuring the training’s relevance to modern corporate environments.

Our interactive workshops enhance attendees’ racial literacy and understanding of day-to-day racially insensitive interactions for racially minoritised members of staff (microaggressions). Participants will also learn upstander interventions.

While the presentation and workshops can be delivered separately, we strongly recommend combining them for maximum impact and engagement. These sessions can be delivered year-round or as part of Black History Month (BHM) initiatives.

CSR BENEFITS

In addition, because a large part of ACEN’s activities involve the same equity gaps that many corporates are actively trying to address within their EDI strategy, engaging ACEN to deliver company training in this area provides you with the added benefit of working with an organisation that will re-deploy funds into further student and racial equity initiatives.