Our mission is to support talented people from groups that are under-represented in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability, or facing significant barriers to employment, to not just enter the creative industries, but to thrive when they get in. Only then will the industry truly reflect and engage broader society. 

We are a social enterprise, unrivalled in diverse recruitment, training and inclusion. We work with organisations across the whole creative economy. Creative Access is largely funded by our employer partners who are committed to improving diversity and inclusion within their organisations, wholeheartedly. Profits go back into growing, training and supporting our community. We are also a gateway for the Government’s Kickstart scheme which provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

Creative Access is one of the leading diversity organisations in the UK.

We ask our employer partners to commit to bringing in and uplifting talent from under-represented communities in three ways:

1. Widening the talent pool to include candidates from all backgrounds
2. Investing in staff from under-represented groups to progress to senior positions
3. Creating an inclusive workplace where everyone, whatever their background, can feel valued and is able to flourish

We take a wholehearted approach that covers recruitment, candidate support and employer training; one that not only broadens your talent pool to be far more diverse than ever before, but also assesses and improves your organisation’s approach to inclusion through bespoke employer training.

We know it can be tough to join an organisation where diversity is a challenge ,so we support successful candidates through our Entry Support Programme. We also support all our alumni to progress and ensure they have equal access to pay rises, promotions and training; to ultimately to reach senior levels within the industry.

Equally we recognise the importance of the organisations with whom we work providing environments that allow people from different backgrounds to thrive. Through our bespoke recruitment, training, and mentorship programmes, we help these organisations create the kinds of inclusive working environments in which talent from under-represented groups can truly flourish.

We operate across all creative sectors in the wider creative economy, including Book Publishing; Charities; Government & Campaigning; Fashion & Beauty; Film; Museums & Galleries; Music; Newspaper & Magazine Publishing; PR, Advertising & Marketing; Radio; Television; Talent; and Theatre.

Our partners range from global brands, to smaller independent organisations, across the whole of the UK.

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Creative Access has been set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC, pronounced ‘kick’ not ‘sick’). This means we are a not-for-profit social enterprise and that all profits are re-invested.

But what really gives us a ‘CIC’? (sorry – couldn’t resist!). Our decisions are driven by the interests of both the young people and the companies with whom we work. This sets us apart from other organisations where all decisions are ultimately about increasing profits. Of course, in order to be able to continue our work in the long-term, we can’t lose money, so we are hugely grateful to all our industry partners, especially to ITV Studios who provide us with our fabulous home.