The DataKirk has announced that deputy fist minister and cabinet secretary for the economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes, will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Summit and Festival, taking place 9 October 2025 in Edinburgh.

This landmark event celebrates diversity, talent, and innovation within Scotland’s ethnic minority communities.

With the theme ‘Wellbeing and Resilience – Thriving in a Changing World’ the 2025 Summit and Festival will convene entrepreneurs, educators, policy leaders, and young people. The event will consider how to co-create a more inclusive economy.

“We know that more action is needed to tackle racial inequalities and unlock the economic potential of everyone who calls Scotland home,” Forbes said.

“That’s why the Scottish Government is improving recruitment guidelines to help employers to create and sustain a more diverse workforce and supporting initiatives which encourage more people from underrepresented groups to apply for jobs and training opportunities.

“We are also investing up to £90 million in the delivery of local employability support services in 2025/26 to support people who face barriers into employment towards and into sustainable fair work.”.

The 2025 Summit and Festival will include fringe events between 6 to 8 October across cities in Scotland, a dynamic mix of roundtable discussions on 9 October and awards and festival on 0 October evening.

Recommended reading

• Datakirk Announces Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Summit – Get Involved!
• Datakirk: Championing Scottish Black Talent Year Round
• Scottish Black Talent Summit: People Make Scotland

The DataKirk is hosting a special fringe event on 7-8 October tagged African Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Pipeline Programme (ASEEP 2025), designed to bridge digital ecosystems between Africa and Scotland.

“Having the Deputy First Minister open the 2025 Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Summit is a tremendous honour,” Fash Fasoro, CEO of DataKirk and organiser of the summit and festival said.

“The Summit embodies a vision of Scotland where everyone, no matter where they come from, can thrive, contribute, and lead. This event is about visibility, opportunity, and action. It’s about building a Scotland where the talents of ethnic minority communities are seen, celebrated, and fully integrated into our nation’s economic future.”