The SME sector is a significant employer and provider of goods and services in the region, and is widely involved in delivery of public service contracts and, therefore, should be bound by requirements of public sector partners. There is a willingness to take action for equality, if a lack of resources. Increasingly many business leaders recognise that it is simply good business practice to consider the diverse needs of their staff and customers and, therefore, wish to take diversity into account within the management of their organisations. For others information - about new legislation and the business case for diversity - has simply not been accessible. In the North East region, a resource centre - Equality North East - has been established to support businesses in the development of equality and diversity practice. Similarly the Welsh Development Agency has led a project designed to improve the equality practice of SMEs in Wales. These developments are illustrative of the support needed by the sector in the North West.
Regional Equality Priorities (Within Objective 3) Dev elop a strategic equality scheme that will enab le SMEs (and small v oluntar y sector organisations) to standar dise practice and ensur e the y do not lose out in contracting to pub lic and private firms that r equir e equality compliance .
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