Following its successful first edition, the Scottish Black Talent Summit returns this year on 30 and 31 October at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh. The summit aims to improve Scotland’s workplace diversity and will bring influential leaders from various sectors together to explore the latest trends, insights, and solutions involved in closing the talent gap in Scotland.

The two-day event – which includes a hiring fair in addition to the summit – will host black talent, talent acquisition and HR professionals, diversity and inclusion experts, industry players, government and local authorities and universities.

DataKirk believes that leveraging the Scottish black talent pool is vital for fostering diversity of perspectives, driving innovation, and gaining a competitive edge. By tapping into a diverse range of skills and experiences, organisations can address skills gaps and create a more inclusive workforce.

This year’s edition is sponsored by Techscaler as the summit’s official partner. Techscaler is the Scottish Government tech startup support programme established in 2022 to deliver on key priorities outlined in the Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review (STER) report, and in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET), aimed at strengthening the country’s tech sector and encouraging entrepreneurship. Techscaler is delivered by tech incubator CodeBase.

Steven Drost, CSO of CodeBase, said: “Techscaler is proud to sponsor this year’s Scottish Black Talent Summit event. A modern Scotland needs to harness the potential of all of its citizens in order to build the fair, inclusive and diverse country that we all want to live in – a country that can connect with the rest of the world with confidence.

“DataKirk is doing a heroic job of promoting and showcasing black talent in Scotland, helping to bring a new and unique perspective to enrich the country. We hope our participation will shine a light on an untapped talent pool and build lasting introductions and connections.”

Day one of the two-day conference will include a panel featuring insight from black talent mentors, an employability workshop where delegates can harness their interview skills and get feedback on their CVs, and a hiring fair putting industry at the hands of untapped talent.

The second day of the summit will feature a series of talks and panels about leveraging the black talent pool, social mobility and diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) strategies, and a walkthrough of the Data Challenge and Cyber competition put on by the event.

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Fash Fasoro, the founder and CEO of DataKirk said: Fash Fasoro, “We are thrilled to have Techscaler’s as official partner for the 2^nd Scottish Black Talent Summit & Hiring Fair 2023. At DataKirk, we believe that diversity is not only a moral imperative but also a catalyst for innovation and progress.

“Our partnership with Techscaler is a testament to our shared commitment to a more inclusive Scotland. Together, we’re forging a path towards a brighter, more connected future, where diversity is celebrated, and every citizen’s potential is realised.”

Tickets are still available and more information can be found here.

Further, there are still opportunities for speakers and exhibitors, who can show their interest by getting in touch with DataKirk via info@thedatakirk.org.uk.