Path West Midlands, a leading provider of Positive Action traineeships for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals, will be meeting employers from across the West Midlands region to discuss the under representation of BME individuals in supervisory, technical and management levels of organisations. Although BME communities have contributed significantly to the cultural, political and economic life of the region, they still remain significantly under-represented in key management and senior positions.

The West Midlands and Birmingham boast high BME populations. The total population of the West Midlands region is approximately 5,267,308, with the minority ethnic population consisting of 525,000 (10% of the total population of the region is of BME origin, the 2nd largest region in the UK). The total population of Birmingham is 977,087 with a high proportion being of BME origin (289,681, thus 29% of the total population) (Source: Census of Population, 2001).

Of the total 327,466 individuals in senior officer and management positions within the region: 0.44% are from a Chinese or other ethnic background; 0.49% are from a mixed White background; 0.92% are from a Black or Black British background and 4.5% of individuals are from an Asian background. In comparison, 93% of individuals in senior and management positions are from a White British background (Source: Census of Population, 2001).

The proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic communities is set to grow, making for example, Birmingham on par with Leicester in terms of being the first BME majority city in Britain. By 2010 Birmingham's BME population will outnumber its White counterpart (Source: Advantage West Midlands).

Claudia Webbe, Chair, Path West Midlands commented "The population of Black and Minority Ethnic communities across the West Midlands is growing at a phenomenal rate. However, BME people have suffered decades of unemployment, under representation in senior and management positions and a lack of black faces in high places. It is clear that unless Birmingham and the West Midlands region invest well in their BME populations, they will be unable to meet the labour and skill requirements generated by consumers and industry. This threatens the future prosperity of not just Birmingham, but much of the West Midlands economy and thus the UK as a whole"

ABOUT PATH

Path West Midlands is a Black-led voluntary organisation that aims to promote the full participation of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities into the economic life of society. The primary focus of Path's work is on the issue of under-representation of BME communities in employment at supervisory, technical and managerial levels. Path works with all minority ethnic communities including Bangladeshi, Pakistani, African and Caribbean communities who have highest rates of unemployment across the West Midlands region. Path West Midlands has helped over 450 individuals move into training and employment in senior and management positions.