Meet the businesswoman who wants to accelerate equality in Birmingham’s hospitality industry

Lorraine Copes is a woman on a mission. Her organisation Be Inclusive Hospitality, founded in 2020, has so far supported over 2,000 employees and 50 founders with much needed . And now she has returned back to her hometown to launch the enterprise right here in Birmingham.

The launch event saw industry leaders and members of the community from across the city come together for a panel discussion and networking opportunities, as part of Lorraine’s vision to bring about race equity upon founding the social enterprise in 2020.

Lorraine Copes, Founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality says: “Be Inclusive Hospitality is a social enterprise and not-for-profit. And we have a mission - a broad mission - to accelerate race equity within the hospitality industry. And what inspired that was my personal journey.

“So I’ve spent the past two decades working within the hospitality industry as a procurement leader, and sat on boards for a number of the leading restaurants within the UK.

“And quite simply, in any decision making room that I was in any event, any award ceremony, there is never anyone that looks like me in any of those rooms. And if they are, they are usually waiting tables. And I believe that that’s symptomatic of a wider problem that exists within the industry.”

The non-profit has gone from strength to strength in a short space of time, with a Birmingham launch feeling like a natural progression for the organisation. “It probably speaks to my background in procurement and a commercial leader. At the beginning of my journey in 2020, the first thing I set out to do was explore if there are any stats that provide some clarity on the current status quo within the industry.

“And a business by the name of The Resolution Foundation produced a report on our behalf, which confirmed that 17.83% of the hospitality industry identify as Black, Asian or ethnic minority. What it also identified is that people from those backgrounds and not in senior leadership roles.

“I felt really strongly about launching here in Birmingham, my home city, simply because we have an appetite and a desire in the longer term to deliver social impact throughout the country.

“And to date, we’ve been able to do that to a certain degree. So we’ve supported 2000 employees and 50 founders with grant funding, with mentorships, scholarships. It’s really important to recognise that, you know, the entire country is not London. Equally there are, you know, people within Birmingham that need the support that we’ve been able to offer specifically within London”

Be Inclusive Hospitality is now seeking to continue their work supporting people as it expands further afield. “The really important thing about Be Inclusive Hospitality is all in the name. It’s a rally call.

“If you are a person that works within the industry, irrespective of your background, and if you’re a company within the hospitality industry - or service sector to that - there will be a place for you within the community in terms of how you can collaborate, how you can work with us, and how we can collectively work together to accelerate change. So if this is you - get in touch, let’s have a conversation, and let’s accelerate change together.”