The diversity advantage challenge is a contest by the Council of Europe initiated in 2014 to promote a new approach to managing increasingly diverse societies.

It is a contest for the best real-life stories of the successful involvement of people of different cultural (ethnic, religious, linguistic) backgrounds in the design of innovative products, services, policies, projects and initiatives. The stories should illustrate how it is possible to harness cultural diversity to the benefit of businesses, organisations and communities.

It serves the purpose of recognizing that diversity is not a threat. It can bring competitive benefits for businesses, organisations and communities if managed with competence and in the spirit of inclusion.

On 27 November, the Jury of the “Diversity advantage challenge” pre-selected 15 initiatives from the 63 applications received during its first deliberation amongst which was also the Places of Welcome initiative developed out of the Birmingham Social Inclusion process.

Ultimately the winner of this event was XEIX, Fostering intercultural relations around local businesses, Spain.

For more information about all 15 shortlisted initiatives see http://www.coe.int/t/DG4/CULTUREHERITAGE/CULTURE/DIVERSITY/Brochure-DiversityAdvantageChallenge_en.pdf