Chamber joins movement to tackle racism
Date published:
The Chamber has joined a growing network of organisations taking practical steps to challenge racism across the North East.
The Become the Bridge movement, set up by the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC), aims to mobilise and empower organisations to take meaningful action within their systems and practices to challenge racism.
The coalition aims to create a stronger, fairer North East, this echoes calls in our Unlocking the North East Economy policy plan, which sets out priorities for achieving inclusive economic growth across the region.
Jessie Kelly-Baxter, policy manager at the Chamber, said: “Signing up to the Become the Bridge movement isn’t just the right thing to do, it strengthens our region and community and makes good business sense.
“The link between inclusivity and the bottom line in business is well-evidenced. Companies embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies and practices are more flexible, innovative and profitable.”
Jessie added: “The Chamber is working to harness the benefits of EDI across the North East. We will support members to take practical action by sharing best practice and promoting NEARC resources alongside our broader workplace equity, inclusion and fair growth agenda.
“We recognise that anti-racism is an ongoing process of learning and improvement and not a one-off commitment, so we will continue to work with the Become the Bridge network to tackle racism and ensure everyone in the region can reach their full potential.”
The Chamber will build on inclusive ways of working, including supporting staff learning, and will continue to embed anti‑racism within its policy and advocacy work, aligning it with wider efforts to address inequality and opportunity gaps in the regional economy.
Nitin Shukla, a member of the NEARC Planning Group, said: “The North East is built on connection. People look out for each other and pull together when it matters. It’s a place we’re proud to call home, and proud that others have chosen to make their home here too.
“Become the Bridge is about standing up for the kind of place we believe in, where no one is made to feel like an outsider, where we show our pride in our actions.”
Nitin added: “We’re delighted that the Chamber has joined the movement. The Chamber’s reach across sectors means they are well placed to help shape how workplaces approach inclusion and responsibility in practice.
“We know that challenging racism can be difficult for organisations and may sometimes feel divisive. However, it is not only the right thing to do, but is also vital for the wellbeing of staff, customers and service users, and essential to achieve strategic goals. Racism undermines organisational effectiveness.”
The collaborative network of the Become the Bridge campaign creates a space for North East businesses to share challenges and successes around tackling racism, while seeking practical solutions together.
The campaign encourages honest reflection and progress, while remaining strongly focused on identifying and implementing what works effectively to tackle racism.
Anti-racism is embedded in the Chamber’s policy agenda and EDI commitments. We have contributed to wider UK work through the British Chambers of Commerce, as well as our own Race, Ethnicity and Discrimination Commission, which called on North East businesses to show “corporate courage” in addressing racism.
Become the Bridge is open to businesses, public sector bodies and voluntary organisations in the North East. For more information visit www.northeastantiracism.org.uk.