Registered address:
Blackberry Events, - 11 Greenbox, Westonhall Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, B60 4AL
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Policy
At Blackberry Events, DEI is central to how we design and deliver events. This Policy outlines our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility and how these principles guide our work as a team and the experiences we create for our clients and attendees.
Our Commitment
At Blackberry Events, we believe that great events are designed for all people. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEI&A) are not add-ons or trends forus, they are fundamental to how we work as a team and how we plan, design and deliver events. Our events bring together individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, abilities, identities and lived experiences.
We are committed to creating environments where everyone feels welcome, respected and able to participate fully, whether they areattending, speaking, exhibiting or working behind the scenes.
We aim to educate and inform our clients, suppliers and venues around best practice in the hope of changing behaviours for more inclusive events in the future.
What DEI Means to Us
Diversity
We recognise and value difference. This includes but is not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, caring responsibilities and lived experience.
Equity
We understand that people need different things to access the same experience. Equity means adjusting our approach, processes and environments to remove barriers and create fair access for all.
Inclusion
Inclusion is how it feels to attend or work on one of our events. We aim to create spaces where people feel comfortable, safe, respected and able to engage in ways that suit them.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a core part of inclusion. Where possible and within our control we design events to remove physical, sensory, cognitive and communication barriers, enabling attendees to participate independently and with dignity.
Our Approach to Event Design
We take a proactiverather than reactive approach to DEI and accessibility. This means considering inclusion from the earliest stages of event planning and embedding it throughout the entire event journey.
Where possible, this includes:
- Encouraging clients to choose venues that support step-free access, accessible facilities and inclusive layouts.
- Working preferably with venues and suppliers who are willing to collaborate on accessibility solutions.
- Providing clear, structured and accessible communications before, during and after events.
- Offering quiet or wellbeing spaces to support neurodivergent attendees and those managing fatigue, anxiety or sensory overload.
- Designing programmes that consider cognitive load, rest breaks and varied ways to engage.
- Ensuring event content, materials and digital platformsare accessible to a wide range of needs.
Neuroinclusion
We recognise that neurodiversity is a natural part of human difference and is present at every event we run. Our approach to neuroinclusion focuses on reducing overwhelm, increasing clarity and providing choice.
This may include:
- Clearing agendas, timings and expectations shared inadvance.
-Calming spaces for breaks and regulation.
- Flexible networking and catering options.
- Simple, plain-English communication.
- Accessible visual design and captioned content
These adjustments benefit all attendees, not only those who identify as neurodivergent.
Communication & Information
Our communications set the tone for inclusion. We aim to ensure that all event-related information is easy to find, easy to understand and available in accessible formats.
We aim to:
- Use inclusive, respectful and person-centred language.
- Avoiding jargon and unnecessary complexity.
- Structure information clearly with headings andstep-by-step guidance.
- Provide accessibility information early, not as an afterthought.
- Offer opportunities for attendees to share access requirements through open-text options.
Speakers, Content & Representation
We strive to work with a diverse range of speakers, facilitators and contributors who bring different perspectives, experiences and expertise. Representation matters and inclusive speaker line-ups help set the tone for our events.
We aim to:
- Value expertise and lived experience.
- Avoid tokenism.
- Represent disability and difference in empowering and respectful ways.
- Ensure speakers are supported to deliver accessible content.
- Make speeches accessible through aids such as live captioning or translation.
Our Team & Partners
DEI is a shared responsibility across the Blackberry Events team. Everyone involved in planning and delivering our events plays a role in aiming to create inclusive experiences.
We aim to:
- Partake in ongoing learning and development in DEI and accessibility.
- Share good practice across the team.
- Work with partners, venues and suppliers who alignwith our values.
- Advocate for accessibility as a standard part of professional event delivery.
Continuous Improvement
We recognise that DEI and accessibility are ongoing journeys. We will continue to listen, learn and adapt as best practice and tech evolves and as we receive feedback from attendees, clients and partners. We regularly review our processes and seek opportunities to improve how inclusive and accessible our events are.
Our Promise
Our goal is not to make people fit our events but to make our events fit the people. Through thoughtful design, open communication and a commitment to continuous improvement, we aim to create events where everyone feels they belong. If you have questions, feedback or specific accessibility requirements, we encourage you to get in touch with us. We welcome the conversation.
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