Inspiring the next generation of creative talent is at the heart of Creative Access’ work. We are dedicated to empowering students with the skills and confidence they need to break into the creative industries. To bring this mission to life, we deliver creative industry insights days for students, and youth and community groups that are packed with inspiration, networking, and career opportunities. Here’s a case study of our industry insights day organised with the University of Sheffield careers team, in which we showcased the world of TV and creative careers at ITV, Manchester to 25 of their students.

We have a longstanding partnership with the University of Sheffield, designed to engage their diverse students who study everything from humanities to law. This trip was one in a series of insights days throughout 2024 that Creative Access’ outreach team planned to support Sheffield students as they prepare for graduation and beyond to:

• Learn about the creative industries: Providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse roles available 

• Gain confidence and optimism: Empowering students to see their potential and feel excited about their career prospects 

• Network with peers and experts: Facilitating connections with industry professionals and like-minded peers 

What the day involved: 

University of Sheffield students travelled to ITV in Manchester for an exclusive opportunity to explore one of the UK’s leading creative hubs. The agenda was carefully curated to inspire and inform including: 

• Coronation Street set tour: Students began their day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Coronation Street set, providing a unique glimpse into the world of television production 

• Panel discussion with industry experts: A dynamic panel of professionals from various disciplines including business, scripting, talent management, and communications shared their career journeys, followed by a Q&A. The session opened students’ eyes to the wide array of roles available in the creative sector, as well as how to stay resilient whilst job hunting and top tips for career development. 

• Employability workshop: The Creative Access outreach team delivered a bespoke session focusing on identifying personal strengths, navigating imposter syndrome, personal branding and pitching skills.

The day proved to be an overwhelming success. Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive: 

• 100% of attendees agreed or strongly agreed that the day increased their confidence in pursuing a career in the creative industries 

• 100% of attendees agreed or strongly agreed that the experience left them feeling inspired and optimistic about their future careers 

The creative industry insights day highlighted the power of exposure and goal-setting in encouraging students to take meaningful steps toward their creative ambitions.  

Are you interested in booking a creative industry insights day? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our outreach team on email.  

Images taken by University of Sheffield.

Creative Access partnered with world-renowned brand strategists Ogilvy UK to devise and deliver the first cohort of its Borderless Mentoring Programme, aimed at boosting retention and progression of Ogilvy UK staff from under-represented backgrounds within the company in order to impact retention, confidence and progression.

Individuals from Ogilvy UK’s enterprise resource planning groups (ERGs) were invited to apply for the mentoring programme, with individuals approached and nominated from across the business to participate in the programme. A cohort of 20 staff from historically marginalised backgrounds were nominated by leadership at Ogilvy and matched with senior level mentors from outside their sector. Partnerships began in October 2023 and ran for 6 months of virtual mentoring until April 2024. The joint aim was to use mentoring as a tool to improve mentee confidence, knowledge, optimism for career progression as well as expanding contacts & networks. 

Campaign measurement indicates 100% of surveyed mentee respondents agreed the mentoring programme had boosted their confidence, with 75% agreeing it had made them more optimistic about opportunities for career progression open to them. 72% of respondents also agreed the mentoring programme improved their knowledge and skills they need to progress their career in the creative economy. The programme wrapped with a celebration event – hosted at Ogilvy UK HQ – that brought mentees and mentors together in person to celebrate the success of the programme and provide a platform to highlight individual achievements. 

Since 2022, Creative Access’ partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing Plc has strengthened. This is down to a combination of Creative Access’ involvement in senior level recruitment in the form of Bloomsbury Publishing’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager, via the Creative Access opportunities board, as well as Bloomsbury Publishing’s commitment to elevating and developing under-represented staff. Our joint aim is to empower under-represented staff, facilitating career advancement and professional development opportunities.

Creative Access’ partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing is all about practical steps and smart resource use. Thanks to our opportunities board, Bloomsbury was able to bring in fantastic diverse talent, including a new Diversity & Inclusion Manager. This has really paid off, with 10 times more staff joining initiatives like the Springboard entry-level career support program, enabling these historically under-represented individuals to build skills and networks. The involvement of key team members shows how effective our collaboration is in driving positive change.

Since 2022, Creative Access’ partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing has driven significant Diversity Equity & Inclusion progress. Bloomsbury has leveraged Creative Access’ opportunities board to recruit diverse talent and has actively engaged staff in Creative Access’ career support programs for entry and mid-level under-represented talent. Key achievements include the recruitment of a Diversity and Inclusion Manager in 2022 via Creative Access, as well as enrolling ten staff members in Creative Access career development programmes in 2023 and planning further participation in Thrive the mid-level career development programme in 2024. This collaboration has effectively promoted diversity and professional development within Bloomsbury, supporting the career advancement of under-represented staff.

During the 2022-23 academic year, Creative Access and Loughborough University collaborated to support Black and Asian students in career guidance and support. Through a series of initiatives, including showcase events, employability sessions, industry insights days and a mentoring programme, we aimed to enhance students’ understanding of, as we as raise awareness of opportunities within the creative industries.

Our showcase event featured a panel of successful alumni who shared insights and tips for success with 28 students. The bespoke employability session focused on portfolio development, networking, and personal branding, engaging 20 students. The industry insights day at ITV Studios provided 23 students with valuable behind-the-scenes experiences and networking opportunities. Additionally, our mentoring programme paired 20 students with industry professionals for six months, offering tailored support and guidance.

Feedback from participants highlighted the positive impact of our initiatives. Across events, respondents expressed increased confidence, inspiration, and optimism about pursuing careers in the creative industries. Specifically, the employability session helped develop crucial skills and knowledge for 84% of participants, while the mentoring programme beneficiaries spoke of: boosted confidence, industry understanding, CV and cover letter skills as well as an increased professional network they wouldn’t have otherwise had access to.

While Publishing Association data from 2022 reports an increase in diversity, the industry still remains tough to get into for those from underrepresented groups. Only 17% of those working in the industry are from ethnically diverse backgrounds and two-thirds (66%) are from privileged backgrounds. 

Research shows that people from underrepresented backgrounds who advance the furthest in their careers all share one characteristic – a strong network who nurture their professional development. A mentor programme  is a powerful tool to provide insight to the breadth of roles available, support with goal setting and building networks for navigating the industry.​  

In 2022, Creative Access and Penguin Random House UK established a commitment to set up 500 mentor programme partnerships by 2025 to support aspiring talent from under-represented groups seeking to access the industry. The mentors came from within PRH and mentees from across the Creative Access community.  

The programme aimed to break down barriers and myths, showcase the rich mix of roles and opportunities on offer and provide an opportunity for mentees to build on knowledge and expertise about the world of publishing. The mentorship is designed to help develop skills and confidence, and build new connections and touchpoints in publishing. 

To date, the scheme has established 346 mentor matches. And its impact is far reaching:   

1. 100% of mentee survey respondents said this mentoring programme has improved their knowledge and understanding of publishing.​ 

2. 98% of mentee survey respondents said this mentoring programme has boosted their confidence​ 

3. 90% of mentee survey respondents said their mentor has supported them with applying for new roles in publishing ​ 

4. 84% of mentee survey respondents said this mentoring programme has expanded their industry contacts and networks. ​ 

Creative Access has partnered with The Financial Times since 2016 to provide access to and demystify the world of journalism to people from under-represented communities. 

The Financial Times committed not just to bringing in diverse talent, but to investing in that talent to enable them to thrive and progress in their careers. To that end, as well running regular internships, they also sponsor the Creative Access alumni mentoring programme which sees over 100 individuals matched with senior professionals each year.

The partnership with Creative Access has enabled The Financial Times to bring in over 25 talented individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds or Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities into paid internships at the newspaper and its specialist titles. Almost all of these are still working in journalism and progressing through the industry. 

Founded in 1888, The Financial Times is a daily newspaper, printed in broadsheet and published digitally, that focuses on business and economic current affairs. 

Since its inception, Hachette UK has partnered with Creative Access to improve access to the publishing industry for those typically under-represented in the sector.

Creative Access has supported Hachette to revise their hiring approach, review job descriptions and develop Positive Action programmes. We have also supported interns to make the move into permanent roles. Together we’ve delivered virtual and in-person masterclasses to educate potential employees about the breadth of roles within the publishing industry. 

Creative Access has a whole-hearted partnership with Hachette UK, providing a more diverse pipeline of talented individuals into the organisation. We’ve placed over 100 candidates from under-represented communities in paid internships at Hachette UK. The majority of these continue to progress through the organisation.  

Hachette UK is the second largest British publishing group and the market leader in e-books, made up of 10 publishing divisions and over 50 imprints.

The team at H+ K Strategies approached Creative Access in 2017 to help address the lack of representation of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse talent within their business.

Creative Access has supported H+K Strategies via a multi-faceted approach to the recruitment pipeline, including a regular intake of trainees recruited via Affirmative Action, and annual outreach events (both in person and virtual) to equip candidates with a deeper understanding of PR, campaigns and communications.

Creative Access was a key partner in the launch and delivery of H+K Strategies’ EquAll, the local expression of the global H+K Diversity and Inclusion program You Belong in 2018 and has since been instrumental in bringing in new candidates to the PR industry and to the organisation.

H+K London is a top public relations agency providing strategic advice and creativity to its clients. With a staff of over 300 it’s part of an international network of 80 offices.

The producer of series 2 of ‘The Great’ approached Creative Access to find department trainees from diverse backgrounds ready to start their careers in the TV industry.

All trainees were educated about the breadth of roles on set during the recruitment process. They attended an induction to ensure they could make the best of the opportunity on set at Three Mills Studio in Stratford. This session covered how to set goals, create an impact and navigate being a minority in the workplace.

Through a partnership with Creative Access the diversity of the crew was increased by 1% (of a crew of 300). Ten trainees from communities under-represented in the film industry were placed across every department, including hair & make-up, art, first assistant director, set decoration, post-production and script supervision.

The Great, broadcast on Channel 4, is an Emmy / Golden Globe nominated comedy-drama starring Elle Fanning. It focuses on the rise of Catherine the Great to become the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history.

Creative Access has partnered with the School of Arts and Creative Industries at LSBU since 2018 to improve access to work for students and graduates from under-represented communities.

Creative Access has provided a targeted programme of support for students which includes interview practice clinics, creative showcases on campus and student training days, to equip them for apply to roles upon graduation. We also deliver an annual 1:1 mentoring programme, matching students with professionals in the industry in which they aspire to work.

Creative Access has supported over 15 students from LSBU to secure paid roles at leading employers across the creative industries. We have also provided crucial employability support to many more students who benefit from Widening Participation support.

London Southbank University is a leading London institution committed to supporting its students from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, which now make up over 55% of their graduates.

White Cube came to Creative Access in the wake of George Floyd’s murder to help the gallery radically shift its diversity and inclusion agenda.

Creative Access has enabled White Cube to develop and implement a diversity and inclusion strategy which will have a lasting impact on the gallery’s structure and output. We also support on practical implementation, from running training to bringing in new talent via internships and job listings. 

Creative Access worked with the White Cube board to devise a diversity and inclusion policy that is authentic and ambitious. We delivered an extensive company-wide global training programme, designed to deepen understanding of personal and collective impact and to affect behavioural change to create a more inclusive environment.

White Cube is one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, with branches in London and Hong Kong.

Creative Access has a long-standing partnership with the National Theatre to enable people from under-represented communities to access careers in the world of theatre. 

Creative Access has worked whole-heartedly with the National Theatre. We have delivered masterclasses to sector-wide theatre groups for staff from ethnically diverse communities. We have also delivered “Managing Inclusive Cultures” training to 400 managers at the theatre “jam-packed with enough wisdom and insight to help us take the next steps on our journey.” 

Creative Access has enabled the National Theatre to significantly increase the ethnic diversity of its team over an 8 year period. We placed over 25 interns from under-represented communities in the team. 90% of these are still working in the theatre industry.  

Founded by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963, the National Theatre of Great Britain is one of the UK’s most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues.