On the eve of London anti-immigration protests, the UK Inclusive Sourcing Summit 2025 Conference, organised by Minority Supplier Diversity Network UK (MSDUK) and the UK’s leading advocacy groups, delivered a powerful message: ethnic minority-owned businesses (EMBs) are critical drivers of the UK’s economic growth and innovation.

Research presented at the Summit shows that EMBs contribute £25–£74 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually, employ over three million people, and pay nearly £5 billion in corporation tax in the UK. EMBs also outperform peers on innovation, with 30% reporting innovation activity, compared to just 11% of non-EMBs (1), reinforcing their role in driving UK competitiveness and supply chain resilience. Crucially, a 1% uplift in SME growth could inject an additional £2.5 billion into the UK economy, highlighting the untapped potential of greater inclusion.

Held on 11–12 September at London’s historic Guildhall, the Summit attracted nearly 600 attendees and connected more than 300 small and diverse businesses with senior executives from global organisations including the City of London Corporation, Cabinet Office, Accenture, Amazon, Nationwide, Monzo, Nestlé, EY, and Siemens.

A first-of-its-kind UK summit, organised in partnership with MSDUK, OutBritain, Social Enterprise UK, Veteran UK, and WEConnect International, it celebrated standout small and diverse business success stories, such as Gibbs Consulting, Europe’s largest ethnic minority owned business and Combat2Coffee, a veteran-led social enterprise supported by England Captain Terry Butcher.

Renowned Olympian Kriss Akabusi MBE delivered a rousing keynote on teamwork, resilience, and collaboration, inspiring delegates to work collectively towards a more inclusive economy.

Roundtables hosted by EY, Nestlé, and RBC Royal Bank gave small and diverse businesses the opportunity to share procurement challenges and propose solutions directly to major corporate buyers. In addition, panel discussions explored legislative changes, onboarding requirements, reporting challenges, and the broader business case for engaging small and diverse businesses, helping both corporates and suppliers align on practical steps for inclusion.

Commenting on the event, Reshma Sheikh, Managing Director of MSDUK: “Recent immigration protests have exposed systemic challenges faced by minority communities. This year’s conference set out to counter that narrative by showcasing the remarkable contributions of ethnic minority-owned businesses and demonstrating how supplier diversity fosters sustainable practices and drives economic growth.”

Looking ahead, MSDUK will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026, with plans to further scale its mission of building a truly inclusive economy.