UK employers risk skills shortages, recruitment and retention problems and costly tribunal claims if they fail to promote equality and value diversity claim the organisers of Job Scene - a recruitment roadshow. Research by Opportunity Now states that by 2010 only 20 per cent of the UK working population will be white, male, able-bodied and under 45. The largest increase will be in the number of working women.

A survey conducted by Personnel Today and law firm DLA revealed that nearly half of 1,400 employers questioned have inadequate equality and diversity training policies to help line managers deal with workplace issues.

The organisers of Job Scene, a series of recruitment, skills and training events, are aware how important it is for employers to address these diversity issues now rather than later. That is why the largest national series of its kind has teamed up with Race For Opportunity at its events held in Birmingham, Bristol and London to promote diversity in the work place.

Race for Opportunity aim to meet fellow exhibitors who include HR managers, and inform them of diversity issues that directly affect their recruitment campaigns and ultimately their organisation's competitive edge.

Race for Opportunity's north area business development manager, Richard Stokes explained the benefits of being involved with Job Scene. "It is always worthwhile being at a Job Scene event. It is right at the cutting edge of employment in this country and diversity is what it is all about."

With thousands of visitors drawn to visit the event, Job Scene provides the perfect opportunity to meet a wide section of the community and assess their suitability there and then for available vacancies.

The National Audit Office were just one of the many employers present at the Job Scene event held earlier this year in Olympia, London. Guy Lamming, recruitment manager for the National Audit Office, explained why he finds Job Scene so important as part of his recruitment strategy. "At the National Audit Office we are looking to build a diverse workforce of graduates drawn from various backgrounds who can offer us a variety of different skills and experiences."

"The Olympia event gives us the opportunity to meet more than just those who have recently graduated or who are about to graduate. We get to meet more mature graduates and second jobbers who are considering the public sector or accountancy as a career change. We are looking forward to meeting more strong candidates in 2004."

For more information about the Job Scene series, visit www.jobsceneuk.co.uk or Freecall 0500 026120.