“Since 2021, ITV has partnered on a mentoring scheme with Creative Access, an organisation that helps people from under-represented communities to access careers in creative industries. In 2025, ITV hit their target of matching over 500 mentoring partnerships, achieving 504 in total,” reports Advanced Television.

Independent Publishers Guild was pleased to welcome several participants in Creative Access’ Springboard and Thrive career development programmes to its Spring Conference on 11 February. Want to know what our community took from the day? Read the full piece on IPG’s website.

After almost 15 years with Creative Access co-founder and Executive Chair, Josie Dobrin, has made the decision to step down from her role.

Creative Access started out in 2012, driven by a commitment to addressing inequity in the creative industries. We now stand as a strong trusted voice, and our impact is widely felt. 

Under Josie’s leadership, Creative Access has changed the landscape of the sector in the UK.  The organisation is firmly established as the go-to resource for both creative employers, and for individuals from marginalised communities. Josie’s dedication has helped build a strong team, meaningful partnerships, and a foundation that will continue to support our mission for years to come.

Ameet Shah Chair of Creative Access said: “We are deeply grateful for the legacy Josie leaves behind. Her impact will continue to be felt for years to come. Over the past decade and a half, Josie’s vision and commitment have shaped not only the direction of the organisation, but also the values that guide Creative Access. On behalf of the board, staff, and the wider community, I wanted to thank Josie for her extraordinary contribution over the past 15 years and wish her every success and happiness in the next chapter.”

Josie said: “It has been an incredible privilege to lead Creative Access, and I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved; from the early days at The Rights House and then Freuds and then to our current home at ITV, it’s been a phenomenal journey.

There are so many thousands of individuals who have supported us along the way; from the hundreds of people who volunteered as mentors, to the myriad employer partners across the whole creative ecosystem, to our outstanding interns and alumni community. And, of course, it has been a joy to work with so many wonderful colleagues and board members over the past 15 years – too many to name, but I’m grateful to you all.

When we set up Creative Access, we did so out of a fundamental belief that the workforce should be equitable. As in all other fields of work, in the Creative Industries, people from all backgrounds should feel able to contribute, feel valued, progress to senior roles and make an impact.  Some things have certainly changed for the better, but there is still a long way to go to ensure true parity of experience, particularly when it comes to improving social mobility, fighting for racial justice and removing barriers for people with disabilities.

I will always continue to champion Creative Access, but it’s time to hand over the reins to the next generation of talented people in the team. I look forward to seeing how Creative Access evolves.” 

Josie has already begun the process of transitioning her responsibilities with the board, chief executive Mel Rodrigues, and the rest of the team to ensure a smooth handover and continued delivery of the organisation’s mission.

What a night! March’s Creative Access masterclass, full of inspiration, giggles and powerful advice from a panel of industry-leading women, celebrated the first iteration of the MIJ mentoring programme in partnership with powerhouse broadcaster and entrepreneur, Maya Jama.

Hosted at the stunning Flute Bar, tucked away just above the streets of Soho, this exclusive event brought together the Creative Access community for a night of honest conversation and unapologetic authenticity following International Women’s Day. From broadcasting and television to brand partnerships and comedy, the panel shared their journeys through the creative industries – the highlights, the challenges and the lessons learned along the way. 

The energy in the room was electric. Conversation and drinks were flowing, and our community shone just as brightly as the superstar panel of experts and industry trailblazers, including:

• Maya Jama, broadcaster, entrepreneur and social ambassador  
• Amanda Stavri, commissioning editor, reality & entertainment at ITV
• Carol Baffour-Awuah, freelance executive producer
• Francesca Hayward, senior culture & entertainment manager at DIAGEO
• Thanyia Moore, comedian, actor, writer, host, confidence coach (Chair)

Our panellists kicked off by reflecting on the success and positive impact of the MIJ mentorship programme, which aims to support emerging talent from under-represented groups in the creative industries who have historically struggled to access opportunities and industry connections. We at Creative Access know how useful it is to build industry connections, and how hard that can be when you’re just starting out.

And as a proud Bristolian who’s become a defining icon of her generation, Maya knows first-hand how challenging it can be for aspiring creatives based outside of London. That’s why creating national programmes and inclusive spaces where emerging talent can explore their options, meet established industry professionals and build connections is vital.

Staying authentic, even and especially in professional environments, was a key theme that ran throughout the evening.  

For aspiring and entry-level creative professionals, the panel emphasised the importance of staying curious, open-minded and proactive. 

Amanda encouraged attendees not to overlook opportunities simply because they don’t seem glamorous at first:

Many entry points into the industry come through unexpected roles or projects, and these experiences can provide invaluable learning opportunities. She also highlighted the evolving nature of media today. With traditional broadcast now intersecting with streaming platforms and digital content, there are more creative routes into the industry than ever before. 

Francesca added that creative jobs aren’t limited to the arts sector. Brand partnerships, she explained, play a vital role in funding cultural work and offer exciting opportunities for creatives who want to operate at the intersection of culture, marketing and storytelling. Her advice was simple: follow your passion and connect with the people already doing what you love – don’t be afraid to chase opportunities. 

When asked how early-career creatives can stand out, the panel agreed that passion, preparation and engagement make a big impact. Looking around at your peers can be intimidating, but Thanyia’s advice to see inspiration as motivation hit home:

Amanda emphasised how important it is to be present, engaged, and prepared. Being prepared for meetings, speaking up with ideas and sharing your perspective can help demonstrate both confidence and creativity. 

Francesca agreed, noting that enthusiasm and effort often stand out more than experience at the start of a career. “We’re not expecting experience at this stage,” she said. “So you have to find other ways to stand out.” 

For Maya, success ultimately comes down to a balance of finding your talent and working hard. “It’s a 50/50 balance… some things might come naturally, but you still have to put in the hours and do the work.” 

Next, our panellists reflected on the key moments that shaped their careers. 

For Carol, one pivotal moment came when she realised she had been waiting for opportunities rather than actively pursuing them. After years of working across journalism, radio and television, a period of reflection during the COVID pandemic helped her recognise she was ready to step into leadership roles.

The conversation turned to the fast-paced world of live television, with Maya and Carol sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Love Island: Aftersun. From delayed flights to last-minute preparation, live broadcasting often requires quick thinking and deep trust between presenters and producers. Amanda emphasised just how important that relationship can be: “The trust between a presenter and an executive producer is really special.”

Like many creatives, the panellists spoke candidly about dealing with self-doubt – especially in the beginning. Francesca emphasised the importance of prioritising self-love and trusting in your own abilities, while Carol offered a powerful reminder: “Don’t let perfection stop you.” 

Maya reflected on how confidence can evolve over time. “I’m jealous of my younger self sometimes,” she shared. “I didn’t believe it wouldn’t happen. Now that I’m older, doubt can creep in – so I try to reconnect with that version of myself.” Reframing challenges as opportunities for growth has been key to maintaining that mindset.

Networking, something that can often feel intimidating, was reframed throughout the evening as something far more human: building genuine relationships. 

For Francesca, relationships have been fundamental throughout her career. Sharing your work, staying connected and supporting others can open doors in unexpected ways. Maya encouraged attendees to always stay open to conversations and opportunities:

Thanyia perhaps captured the spirit of the evening best: “Audacity is the word of this masterclass. You have to have the audacity to be everything you believe you can be.”

Carol spoke about the importance of coming into mentoring and networking conversations with clear intentions and goals. It’s okay if those change over time; the joy is in assessing and re-assessing, so you stay in touch with who you are and what you want as you grow in your career.

Our audience also asked thoughtful questions about standing out in an increasingly crowded creative landscape. Carol emphasised the importance of developing a distinctive voice, something that people can clearly associate with you. 

Meanwhile, the panel discussed their experiences of being the only person in the room from an under-represented group. 

Maya reflected on the responsibility and opportunities that can come with that position: 

“Someone might see me and think, she did it, so I can do it too. Yes, I might be the first – but I’m also going to open the door for other people.” 

The conversation also touched on caring for your wellbeing and finding balance. For Thanyia, the answer lies in community: “Surround yourself with people who understand your peaks and your troughs.” Maya echoed this, emphasising the importance of maintaining relationships outside of work and allowing yourself time to rest and recharge offline.

After the panel, our community got to work. The room quickly filled with conversation as attendees stayed to network and connect with one another. Socials were exchanged, selfies shared, and new ideas sparked, as our community put the evening’s advice into action. It was an evening filled with genuine joy, connection and creativity – and moments like these remind us why building community is so important in the creative industries.

A MASSIVE thank you to Maya Jama for partnering with Creative Access on this special event and helping bring the MIJ mentorship scheme to life. 

Thank you also to our brilliant panellists – Amanda Stavri, Carol Baffour-Awuah, Francesca Hayward and Thanyia Moore – for sharing their experiences with such honesty and generosity. 

We’re incredibly grateful to the fantastic team at Flute Bar, Broadwick Soho for hosting us and taking such good care of our community, and to the Creative Access mentoring team for their work in creating life-changing mentorship opportunities. 

Finally, thank you to our community for bringing so much energy, openness and curiosity to the evening.

Long hours and constant hustle can sometimes make navigating the creative industries feel isolating, but nights like this remind us why we do it: because we love it, and because we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to find their place within it.

Interested in joining a Creative Access masterclass or applying for a mentor? Register with us today and keep an eye on our opportunities board for upcoming masterclasses and mentoring opportunities. 

We’re also excited to be running the Creative Access x Southbank Centre mentoring programme – an incredible opportunity to gain tailored guidance and grow your network in the arts. Apply by Friday 20th March 2026 at 12pm midday via this link. 

Want to join our employer partner community and create change in the creative industries? Sign up here to find out more about how you can work with us and help make a more diverse, inclusive and representative creative economy. 

The Mo Siewcharran Fund is delighted to announce the latest recipients of four new grant awards: writer-led theatre, Royal Court Theatre; youth-focused theatre, Boundless Theatre; Edinburgh-based network, trade and development body for the Scottish book publishing sector, Publishing Scotland; and The Association of Illustrators, the professional body for illustration in the UK and beyond. 

In its eighth year, the Mo Siewcharran Fund continues to support a range of creative organisations driven by its mission to champion people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds pursuing careers in publishing, music and theatre.

Since launching in 2018, the Fund has supported 61 Black, Asian and ethnically diverse trainees to access roles in publishing, theatre and music across the UK. Each grant award contributes to the salary costs for a six-month traineeship and a full programme of support from Creative Access to ensure the trainee thrives in their new role. 

The Fund’s impact can be seen clearly across the sector: two-thirds (65%) of the interns have gone on to secure a role post-traineeship, with 70% remaining in the creative industries, and three-quarters (75%) of line managers reported increased confidence working with colleagues from under-represented groups as a result of participating in the traineeship. Read our latest impact report for 2022 – 2025 here. 

John Seaton, founder of the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund, commented on the most recent funding round: 

“I am thrilled that the Mo Siewcharran Fund moves into its eighth year so confidently, in partnership with four exciting organisations, who, in their different ways, exemplify the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that underpin both the Fund, and the tireless work of Creative Access.”

Josie Dobrin OBE, executive chair, Creative Access, said: 

“This was one of the toughest rounds yet, with an extremely high calibre of application from many wonderful organisations. It is gratifying to see how many creative businesses recognise the value of such a targeted programme but also demonstrates the urgent need for funding for smaller organisations to create internships themselves. As ever, it’s a joy to work with John on these awards and we have now placed over 60 trainees through the Awards. The vast majority of the interns have gone on to forge successful careers in the creative industries, which represents a fantastic legacy for Mo.”

The Royal Court is the leading force for championing and cultivating playwrights. It presents work across two theatre spaces in Sloane Square and beyond, to support writers and creatives at every stage. Will Young, executive director, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded support from the Mo Siewcharran Fund towards a production trainee role next year. The award will directly support our shared goals to support a more diverse and inclusive future talent pipeline, and the successful candidate will have an enviable opportunity to learn from the Royal Court’s world-class production teams during our celebratory 70th Anniversary season. We can’t wait to start recruitment!”  

Boundless Theatre makes space for young people aged 15–25 to create, connect, and lead the future of the arts. Adele Reeves de Melo, executive director and co-CEO at Croydon-based Boundless Theatre, said: 

“Boundless Theatre is honoured to receive support from the Mo Siewcharran Fund. The fund’s commitment to opening doors in the arts is invaluable, and we’re proud that this traineeship will help a young person from an under-represented background build a meaningful career in our industry.”  

Established in Edinburgh in 1974, Publishing Scotland is a membership body and charity that acts as the voice and networking for publishing companies, organisations and individuals in the industry. Publishing Scotland CEO, Shelia Pinder, said:  

“I had such a positive experience working with Creative Access in the past that when joining Publishing Scotland I knew connecting with your work again could enrich our EDI commitment to the Scottish publishing sector. We are looking forward to supporting deserving talent gaining experience of and building networks in the creative industries in Scotland.”

The Association of Illustrators is a non-profit, professional body championing illustrators and the illustration industry within education, promotion and campaigning in the UK and beyond. Rachel Hill, chief executive, said:  

“We are sincerely thankful to have been awarded a grant from the Mo Siewcharran Fund. With this support, we can offer a structured development opportunity to someone at the start of their career, while adding a fresh perspective that will enrich our team and outreach.” 

The Fund is once again open for other music, theatre or publishing organisations wishing to support internships for those from under-represented communities. 

The deadline for the next round is midday Thursday 25 June 2026. Those interested in applying should download the application form here. 

With 2025 drawing to a close, we’re turning the page on another year of the Creative Access book club. Our community of mentees, interns and alumni came together to discuss five books this year, spanning fiction, non-fiction, and memoir. In 2025, we sent out 158 copies across genres: from coming of age in the city streets of Oslo to hunting demons in late 19th-century Singapore. All in all, that’s 217,408 pages read by the CA community in 2025, all by authors from backgrounds historically under-represented in publishing. As ever, a huge thank you goes to our partners in publishing for supporting our book club, whether that’s supplying copies or providing spaces to host our community! 

Here’s everything we read in 2025:  

• The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey (Pushkin Press)  

• Back in the Day by Oliver Lovrenski (Penguin Random House)  

• Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal (Serpent’s Tail, Profile Books)  

• The Quiet Ear by Raymond Antrobus (Orion Publishing, Hachette UK)  

• Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum (Bloomsbury Publishing)  

This year, we worked with five different independent and major publishers – from Pushkin Press, Profile Books and Bloomsbury Publishing to Penguin Random House and Hachette UK – to provide copies for those who attended across the year. Our tea-fuelled Zoom sessions brought together our community from across the UK, getting us through slow summer nights and cosy winter evenings – while discussions hosted in sparkling publishing offices were made complete by the smell of books and a much-appreciated snack selection.  

The Creative Access book club met in December to share thoughts on Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum at the Bloomsbury offices.

In October, we gathered on Zoom to discuss The Quiet Ear by Raymond Antrobus.

“It’s a raw, beautiful and poetic piece,” one attendee told us after our chat at Penguin Random House about Lovrenski’s brutal yet tender coming of age, Back in the Day. Intimate, winding discussions of Saraswati, the debut novel by Creative Access alum Gurnaik Johal covered identity, romance and oral storytelling with qisse or Punjabi folktales. Raymond Antrobus’ transformative memoir, The Quiet Ear, opened up discussions on D/deafness and class, culture and education; while The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey had us battling mystery, mythology, and misadventure in turn-of-the-century Singapore. Last but certainly not least, Hwang Bo-reum’s Every Day I Read offered a reflective, slightly meta, deep dive into the vital importance of reading for pleasure (spoiler: the Creative Access cat community couldn’t agree more!).   

And finally, a huge thank you goes to our publishing partners! Providing copies, spaces to gather, and stories to celebrate makes the Creative Access book club possible, so a big shoutout is very much deserved. The same, of course, goes for our Creative Access community of readers, who always come ready to chat and bring the stories to life beyond the page. We can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring.

We’re always looking for new book club partners. As well as discussing the book, we can organise a giveaway across our socials and make sure you get plenty of coverage across our community. If you’d like to nominate a title by an author from an historically under-represented community (and you can post out 25-35 copies to attendees) please get in touch at theo@creativeaccess.org.uk.  

“Creative Access, the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the industry, defines underserved communities as groups proven to be underrepresented in the sector”, reports Kirklees Local TV.

Inside Maya Jama’s new partnership with Creative Access and why it matters for diversity in entertainment, media and talent management, reports The Talent Times.

Eight brilliant individuals across all sectors of the industry are celebrated in the Publishers Association’s People of Publishing campaign. This year’s judging panel included Josie Dobrin, executive chair and founder of Creative Access, reports The Bookseller.