Advisory

The Reach Events Scholarship Initiative today unveils ‘Reach 2.0’ – a legacy-driven restructure that formalises governance, strengthens delivery, and sets a clear path to grow scholarships from three to five per year. 

The Reach (Race Ethnicity And Cultural Heritage) Events Scholarship Initiative was launched in 2022 to provide a fund and help support Black, Asian and unrepresented minority ethnic students to study on events management degree programmes and enter the industry. The initiative works to provide £5,000 yearly scholarships to support event management degree students at university with their living expenses over three years of study. Students apply directly to the university, who then select the candidates and arrange the funding.

The scholarships are funded by industry donations; organisations pledge to give £5,000 per year for three years. Reach has grown to offer students more than the scholarship – it is also integrating students in the working world by introducing them to employers for work experience, internships, networking and employment opportunities.

Reach 2.0 is a refreshed model, introducing an Advisory Board to steer strategy, operations and decision-making, alongside active working parties across social, PR, coaching & alumni, events and fundraising.

Robert Kenward, co-founder, Reach: “As we enter our fourth year, Reach has grown beyond what one or two people can do. I’m incredibly grateful to the industry friends who helped get us here – Priya Narain, Marty Fullard, Gabby Austen-Browne and Jonathan Sibley are superstars, and now Reach needs to have longevity and legacy so it needs to stand on its own feet with shared ownership. Reach 2.0 puts specialists around the table, organised into working parties that deliver measurable, actionable outcomes and also more visibility for the programme.”

Kenward continues: “We did good work in the past; now we’re set up to do great work for the long term. My focus is securing five donors a year (up from three) so we can fund more scholars, while an engaged Advisory Board leads the programme’s overall strategy and deliverables. I’m an ally, not a person of colour, and as one of our ambassadors so eloquently put it, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see.’ That’s why this next phase is community-led, designed to outlive me and keep championing who gets to thrive in our sector.”

Anupa White, director, Principal Global Events and Advisory Board director: “The Reach Events Scholarship is about more than opening doors – it’s about changing the face of our industry. By providing funding, mentorship, and invaluable connections, we are empowering talented Black, Asian, and minority-ethnic students to step into the events, MICE, and hospitality sectors with confidence. I’m thrilled to welcome such a diverse and talented group to our Advisory Board and ambassador team. Their expertise and passion will be invaluable in driving the Reach Events Scholarship forward.”

Advisory Board

• Robert Kenward, fitability® recruiter & founder, Jigsaw Talent Solutions
• Anupa White, director, Principal Global Events
• Janine Hart, managing director, Pure Communications Group
• Nadu Placca Rodriguez, CEO, The Zoo XYZ
• Rummanah Promi, event co-ordinator, BUTL
• Samantha Salisbury, events manager, Jonsam Events Ltd

Ambassadors

• Roeleen Johnson, head of account management & implementation, Hotel and Travel Solutions Ltd
• Diana Frederiksen, head of business development, conferences & events, Excel London
• Cherise Scotland, people and culture manager, EMC3
• David Ogiste, founder, Nobody’s Café

To date, Reach has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Hertfordshire, with the university partner for 2026 to be announced later this year.

Companies that are interested in making a positive and long-term impact to D&I in the industry can contact Robert Kenward ([email protected]) for more information.