Creative Access has been mentioned by Georgie Holt, Managing Director for ACAST, in an article on ELLE.
The article details ways in which you can find your dream role in the creative industries.
You can read the full article here.
The Bookseller reports on the latest recipients of the Mo Siewcharran Fund, run by Creative Access; including Faber and Faber, Canongate, Profile Books, Stockroom, and Cloud Cuckoo Land.
The grants are awarded to publishing and theatre companies in memory of Mo Siewcharran, who was a Director at Nielsen Books.
You can read the full article on The Bookseller.
Publishing companies Profile Books and Canongate, as well as theatres Cloud Cuckoo Land and Stockroom, have been awarded the latest grants from the Mo Siewcharran Fund
The Fund was set up in memory of former Nielsen Books Director Mo Siewcharran, whose passion for theatre and publishing lives on through this Fund. The Fund, administered by Creative Access, supports internships for young talent from ethnicities that are under-represented in the creative industries.
Birmingham based theatre company Cloud Cuckoo Land Theatre is recruiting a Children’s Theatre Leadership Trainee to support the company with creating children’s theatre for and with systemically marginalised communities.
“We’re over the moon to be welcoming a Children’s Theatre Leadership Trainee to join us in Cloud Cuckoo Land. Young audiences deserve stories and theatre experiences that reflect, celebrate and resonate with their lives and communities. The theatre for young audiences sector has limited ethnic and cultural diversity behind the scenes, in the very roles that author, inspire and drive new productions: so we’re incredibly grateful to Creative Access and the Mo Siewcharran Fund for the opportunity to provide a new route into that work for a talented aspiring artist.”
London theatre company Stockroom works with artists from all backgrounds to bring the best work to the most people. They are hiring a Trainee Dramaturg to contribute to the creation of new plays for the stage. Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director for Stockroom said:
“Stockroom is a company dedicated to creating new work for the stage and the first theatre company to create a diverse writers room of staffed artists who group write all of our work. We are delighted to welcome a Trainee Dramaturg into our writers room where they will develop their voice and learn to trust their instincts in a nurturing and creative environment. We are incredibly grateful to receive this funding and for our partnership with Creative Access in this exciting project.”
Canongate, a leading publishing house based in London and Edinburgh, has also been awarded the grant. Francis Bickmore, Publishing Director for Canongate said:
“We’re thrilled and honoured to have been awarded this grant, which is especially important to us as John Seton was a colleague of ours at Canongate and this fund was set up as a lasting memorial to his wife Mo. It is such a practical and lasting project for change and we are confident we will gain and be able to train a fabulous colleague as a result.”
The final grant has been awarded to leading non-fiction independent publisher, Profile Books. Niamh Murray, Campaigns Director at Profile Books said:
“We’re delighted to be welcoming a Creative Access trainee to Profile Books and our award-winning publicity team. The support by Creative Access is second-to-none, the calibre of applicants remarkable and it’s fitting that many of the senior team worked with Mo Siewcharran early in her career so we’re proud and delighted to be taking part in this fantastic scheme in her memory.”
John Seaton, who set up the Fund, said:
“Yet again we were bowled over by the strength of the applications to Mo’s Fund. The creative industries – and in particular theatres – continue to have a tough time and Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse employees in the UK have suffered disproportionately from job losses throughout the pandemic. Our hope is that these grants will act as a catalyst for the trainees to enter and thrive in the creative industries.”
Any theatre or publisher wishing to apply for the next round of Mo Siewcharran Fund should email here for the application form. The deadline for the next round of submissions for the Mo Siewcharran Fund is Friday 3rd December 2021.
The Bookseller was the first media outlet to cover our State the Salary research.
Creative Access analysed 500 of the most recent job listings featured on our website. We found that jobs where the employer chose to list the salary as “competitive” attracted nearly 40% fewer applicants than jobs where the salary, or a salary range, was stated in the advert.
You can read the full article on The Bookseller.
One of the first outlets to cover the launch of this new mentorship Hearst UK is launching with Creative Access was PR Week.
The six-month-long scheme aims to provide insight into opportunities in the media, publishing, and PR sectors. Hearst UK has a long history of publishing many successful titles, including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and more. Now they are taking their success further by teaming with Creative Access to help give those who are under-represented in the creative sectors the chance to learn more about what’s available for them. It will also include training and guidance from the PR and comms team, individual mentoring, workshop sessions, and potential attendance at events. The overall aim is to help improve diversity within the PR and Magazine sectors.
Along with being featured for PR Week, the story was covered elsewhere, including on the InPublishing website, PPA, and Diary Directory.
Sky Sports were one of the media outlets to cover the launch of our new alliance led by McLaren Racing. As one of the four organisations partnering on the McLaren Racing Engage project, we have taken our track record in the creative industries and are applying it in the motorsport sector, which still relies on creatives in their marketing, design, and branding functions. McLaren Racing Engage has plans for initiatives over multiple years to improve inclusion and increase opportunity for all in motorsport.
As well as appearing on Sky Sports, this story was also covered widely, including on the Formula 1 official website, The Race, GP Fans, DriveTribe, F1 Beat, and Race Fans.
McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown also tweeted about it, to a positive reception.
Creative Access is teaming up with McLaren Racing as part of a unique industry-first alliance working towards diversifying talent in motorsport, particularly in creative roles.
The multi-year McLaren Racing Engage programme will leverage the expertise of Creative Access to drive forward the 20-time Formula 1 constructors champions’ diversity, equality, and inclusion agenda.
Working alongside the Women’s Engineering Society, EqualEngineers, and the Smallpeice Trust, Creative Access will support McLaren Racing to promote STEM and Formula 1 as an accessible vocation to under-represented groups, foster a culture of inclusion within McLaren, and advance meaningful and sustained change in the motorsport industry. This will be achieved by investments in grassroots-level education and training through various STEM initiatives, funding, and mentorship programmes.
“We are thrilled to be part of this coalition with McLaren Racing,” Josie Dobrin, Chief Executive of Creative Access, said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with like-minded organisations to truly make a difference to one of the sporting world’s most prestigious brands.”
Creative Access will be the lead partner for aspects of the programme that focus on improving inclusive strategies, policies, and recruitment practices to hire, upskill, and advance diverse talent in McLaren Racing’s creative functions, including in their marketing, brand, and design teams.
The initiative will also see the launch of the Creative Access Career Development Bursary, a new fund aimed at talent from under-represented communities who have aspirations to work in motorsport. The bursary will support them with financial grants as a means to overcome some of the real obstacles they face in entering the industry or progressing in it.
Josie Dobrin added:
“We’re particularly excited to be able to run a pilot bursary fund supported by McLaren Racing. This will enable those from communities under-represented in the sector to access money to support them with their career progression.”
Details of the bursary scheme will be unveiled later.
Given the fast-moving nature of motorsport and the technological advances that underpin optimal performance, Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, has highlighted the importance of innovation driven by diversity that will enable his team to stay competitive.
“McLaren Racing is fuelled by brave innovation, but brave innovation relies on diversity of thought and experience across all levels and functions, reflective of our fans, our partners and our communities,” he said.
“By investing in grassroots talent through these STEM initiatives, mentorship and inclusive development programmes, we aim to inspire the future generations of talent by fuelling their passion for engineering and F1.”
Although there are no official figures on the make-up of the workforce across Formula 1 teams, there is a perception that the sport is inaccessible to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and that there’s a lack of diversity across the racing industry. Formula 1 has stated a commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive sport by breaking down the stereotypes associated with a motorsport careers and encouraging people from all backgrounds to get involved so that the sport better reflects the world in which it races.
A press release from McLaren Racing can be viewed here.
- Applications now open for mentoring programme for those seeking career advancement in publishing
- The programme follows Penguin Random House’s commitment to better support emerging creative talent from under-represented communities as part of its accelerated inclusivity action plan
Creative Access and Penguin Random House have re-opened applications for their new mentoring programme which will see senior leaders from the publisher take on mentees from groups that are under-represented in the publishing industry.
In this second round of the programme, Creative Access will find and match 100 people with senior leaders from across Penguin Random House. The programme is aimed at those from under-represented communities who want to pursue a career in publishing, whether they are in education or have some work experience in publishing or other creative industries. The programme also welcomes applications from those currently not in education, employment, or training. Alongside this, the Penguin Random House HR team will pair each of their leaders with a second mentee from within the company to offer support and advice on career development and progression.
The programme, launched in October 2020, is running as two six-month cohorts over a 12-month period. The second cohort is open for applications until 25th April 2021 and mentees will be matched with mentors comprising Penguin Random House UK’s entire Senior Leadership team (including CEO Tom Weldon) alongside a number of other Heads of Department across the company. To help set the new relationships up for success, Creative Access will offer training to both mentors and mentees.
This programme follows Penguin Random House’s launch of its Books for Everyone, by Everyone action plan in July 2020, which set out a renewed commitment to being a more inclusive company and publisher. It outlines a number of actions focused on removing barriers for entry and offering greater support for career progression and development for those in the company, including a commitment to match each leadership team member with two mentees.
Josie Dobrin, CEO, Creative Access:
“Our first ever publishing trainees took part in year-long internships at Random House back in 2012, so it seems fitting that we are now partnering again with Penguin Random House on this exciting new mentoring scheme. There are so many people from under-represented backgrounds who would love to enter the publishing industries but have no idea where to start, and many more who are already working in the industry but would welcome support to help progress to more senior levels. This opportunity will allow them to get one-on-one support to help make their dreams a reality – and more importantly help the book industries in time to better represent our society.”
Val Garside, HR Director at Penguin Random House:
“Creative Access run a number of brilliant programmes focused on making the creative industries truly reflective of our society, similar to our own ambition for the publishing industry – making them the perfect partner. Mentoring is a powerful tool, and we hope this programme will have a key role to play in supporting the next generation of creative talent. And it’s also a hugely valuable opportunity for senior leaders across our company to hear from this new generation, both inside and outside the company. We know that to make meaningful and long-term progress towards being a more inclusive publisher we need a culture of sustained learning – for everyone, across all levels of seniority. I’m very excited about what we can offer and learn through this partnership.”
The programme follows Penguin Random House’s commitment to better support emerging creative talent from under-represented communities as part of its accelerated inclusivity action plan.
Creative Access and Penguin Random House have re-opened applications for their new mentoring programme which will see senior leaders from the publisher take on mentees from groups that are under-represented in the publishing industry.
In this second round of the programme, Creative Access will find and match 100 people with senior leaders from across Penguin Random House. The programme is aimed at those from under-represented communities who want to pursue a career in publishing, whether they are in education or have some work experience in publishing or other creative industries. The programme also welcomes applications from those currently not in education, employment, or training. Alongside this, the Penguin Random House HR team will pair each of their leaders with a second mentee from within the company to offer support and advice on career development and progression.
The programme, launched in October 2020, is running as two six-month cohorts over a 12-month period. The second cohort is open for applications until 25th April 2021 and mentees will be matched with mentors comprising Penguin Random House UK’s entire Senior Leadership team (including CEO Tom Weldon) alongside a number of other Heads of Department across the company. To help set the new relationships up for success, Creative Access will offer training to both mentors and mentees.
This programme follows Penguin Random House’s launch of its Books for Everyone, by Everyone action plan in July 2020, which set out a renewed commitment to being a more inclusive company and publisher. It outlines a number of actions focused on removing barriers for entry and offering greater support for career progression and development for those in the company, including a commitment to match each leadership team member with two mentees.
Josie Dobrin, CEO, Creative Access:
“Our first ever publishing trainees took part in year-long internships at Random House back in 2012, so it seems fitting that we are now partnering again with Penguin Random House on this exciting new mentoring scheme. There are so many people from under-represented backgrounds who would love to enter the publishing industries but have no idea where to start, and many more who are already working in the industry but would welcome support to help progress to more senior levels. This opportunity will allow them to get one-on-one support to help make their dreams a reality – and more importantly help the book industries in time to better represent our society.”
Val Garside, HR Director at Penguin Random House:
“Creative Access run a number of brilliant programmes focused on making the creative industries truly reflective of our society, similar to our own ambition for the publishing industry – making them the perfect partner. Mentoring is a powerful tool, and we hope this programme will have a key role to play in supporting the next generation of creative talent. And it’s also a hugely valuable opportunity for senior leaders across our company to hear from this new generation, both inside and outside the company. We know that to make meaningful and long-term progress towards being a more inclusive publisher we need a culture of sustained learning – for everyone, across all levels of seniority. I’m very excited about what we can offer and learn through this partnership.”
If you are interested in applying for this programme, please apply here.
Creative Access is supporting Prospects to increase the diversity of the career case studies on their website. Prospects are experts in graduate careers, and the information, advice, and opportunities that they provide help guides students and graduates towards bright futures.
Creative Access alumni are highly regarded in the creative industries, so we’ve connected with Prospects to help bring their career insights to those seeking to establish careers in the creative industries.
Broadcast has covered Creative Access’ new mentorship programme with ITV, who are partnering with us to pair 150 of their staff with emerging talent from under-represented communities.
Run virtually, the scheme will partner individuals with staff from all areas of the business including development and production, design, digital, technology, legal, finance and HR.
The programme is focused on people who are in formal education and looking to pursue a career in TV and those with up to eight years’ experience in TV who are looking to progress into senior positions.
Read more on Broadcast’s website (paywalled, but register to view five free articles per month).
Televisual has covered Creative Access’ new mentorship programme with ITV, who are partnering with us to pair 150 of their staff with emerging talent from under-represented communities.
Run virtually, the scheme will partner individuals with staff from all areas of the business including development and production, design, digital, technology, legal, finance and HR.
The programme is focused on people who are in formal education and looking to pursue a career in TV and those with up to eight years’ experience in TV who are looking to progress into senior positions.