BMet puts Jess Phillips MP in the hot seat

BMet’s Employer Engagement Director, Suzie Branch-Haddow, hosted a virtual equality and diversity event featuring Labour MP, Jess Philips, this month.

The forward-thinking collaborative IMPowered webinar was organised by national solicitors Irwin Mitchell, which had “challenges of gender diversity in the workplace” as the main theme.

Given the duo roles of co-host and interviewer, Suzie was joined by 300 guests online including BMet’s newly appointed work placement officers and its industry placement officer.

In the role of interviewer, Suzie posed a variety of questions to the dynamic local Labour MP.  The questions were from representatives from a variety of sectors including, legal, recruitment, financial, charitable, local authorities, the NHS and the healthcare industry.

During the enlightening session, the Yardley MP answered questions relating to her family life and background, diversity in the workplace, female empowerment, facing social media abuse and the impact of Covid-19.

Commenting on her involvement, Suzie said: “Being in a (virtual) room with like-minded local organisations that share BMet’s equality and diversity-based business vision was inspirational and definitely reinforced the importance of having a supportive network of influential and inspiring women like Jess Philips.”

BMet continues to actively seek opportunities to partner with local organisations which are a beacon of positive change for the diverse communities that it represents.

Business development is a vital focus for BMet (which includes James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Sutton Coldfield Colleges). The community-focused college continues to strive to respond to ever-changing local business needs, including responding to employment shortages and re-addressing the skills gap.

For more information about the work that the BMet business development team does with local employers, which includes supplying highly skilled future employees through apprenticeship programmes, please visit: https://www.bmet.ac.uk/employers/ .