Creative Access is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new website and brand identity as industry heads such as Stephen Page and Tom Weldon pay tribute to the social enterprise’s impact.  Read more here.

Creative Access, the leading social enterprise in progressive career development and support, is today celebrating a decade of work within the creative industries, improving career access and progression for over 60,000 people under-represented in the sector in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability, or facing significant barriers to employment. 

In those 10 years, Creative Access has, in partnership with some of the leading names in the industry, including ITV, BBC, Penguin Random House, National Theatre, White Cube, Aardman and The Guardian, not just changed the face of the creative industries, but the faces within it. Through a unique combination of mentoring, training and a progressive approach to recruitment, it has, alongside its partners and alumni, made the industry more representative, more inclusive and more accessible. 

Over the past 10 years, Creative Access has: 

• Placed 2,194 individuals in paid internships across the creative sector 
• Helped ensure over 85% of these are still in the industry today
• Supported 58,773 candidates with employability skills, career advice, masterclasses, CV clinics and training
• Enabled 2,261 to participate in mentoring programmes 
• Delivered 3,319 hours of inclusive employer training
• Held 142 masterclasses on how to break into and navigate a career within the creative industries 

Julian Bellamy, managing director, ITV Studios says, “As one of the longest standing partners of Creative Access, we’ve seen first-hand the impact of Josie and her team’s dedication to creating opportunities for candidates from communities that are under-represented in television. Be that through supporting us to bring hundreds of new trainees into the group, many of whom are still with us as they progress their careers and take on more senior roles or through the ITV mentoring programme. We’re proud to have given Creative Access a home within the ITV Studios’ offices – there is no doubt that they have been such a positive force within our industry in ensuring true diversity and inclusion for all.”  

“Penguin Random House’s partnership with Creative Access spans 10 fantastic years, with Random House the first ever publisher to join forces with them in 2012. Creative Access’s work to support talented people from groups under-represented in our industry aligns perfectly with our mission to make books for everyone, because a book can change anyone. Achieving that mission starts from within, and they’ve helped us identify the next generation of creative talent to build a more representative organisation, with more than 40 Creative Access alumni now working at our company,” says Tom Weldon, Chief Executive, Penguin Random House. 

Rufus Norris, artistic director, National Theatre says, “Creative Access is a bold and dynamic cornerstone of the creative industries. For the past ten years they have been successfully providing a nurturing pathway for talent from under-represented groups into meaningful careers across the creative industries.  It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome 25 Creative Access trainees to the National Theatre and I look forward to welcoming more trainees in the next ten years and watching them and Creative Access continue to not just thrive but imbed their forward-looking footprints for others to follow.”

The not-for-profit is marking its 10^th birthday with a series of special events and activities throughout 2022 with partners, alumni and the wider industry, starting with the launch of a new website and brand ‘look and feel’. The new website has been created to improve access to resources, opportunities, mentoring and training for people from under-represented communities in the creative industries to support career progression. Resources include everything from CV clinics to masterclasses on how to navigate publishing and other creative industries with insider tips from Creative Access alumni who have experienced these challenges first hand. 

“I’m so proud of what Creative Access has achieved in the last decade with our incredible partners and talent community. When we started it was rare to meet someone who wasn’t from a privileged background working in the creative industries. Although we’ve seen great progress in the last ten years, the fact we still use language around ‘under-representation’ shows how far we still have to go. Many people are still facing visible and invisible barriers to accessing and progressing in the industry from financial obstacles to racism, which we continue to work hard to help them overcome,” says Josie Dobrin, founder and CEO, Creative Access. 

“We describe ourselves as a ‘sunset organisation’ and hope that one day when publishing, along with the UK’s broader creative industries, truly reflects our society, we will no longer need to exist.”

Contact:

Bibi Hilton

Director of Communications, Creative Access 

07989 571 978 

bibi@creativeaccess.org.uk

About Creative Access

Creative Access is a leading social enterprise combining an unrivalled network of talent from communities under-represented in the creative economy, with progressive career support and development. Our mission is to enable people from communities that are under-represented to access, progress and reach leadership in publishing, film and TV, music, the arts, theatre and beyond. Since it was founded in 2012, Creative Access has place 2,194 individuals in paid internships; supported 58,773 candidates with employability skills; set up mentoring for 2,261 young people and delivered 3,319 hours of inclusive employer training. 

Josie Dobrin, CEO of Creative Access and will instead become executive chair, Heloise Wood in The Bookseller has reported. Wood highlighted that Creative Access are hiring for a new CEO, the details for which can be found here.

Read the article in full.

Josie Dobrin, founder and CEO, Creative Access, announced an exciting leadership change for 2022. Read more in the announcement from her linked-in account:

“It’s been 10 years since Michael Foster, Nigel Warner and I came together to form Creative Access. We were frustrated at the lack of diversity in the creative industries and aware of the positive impact we could have on the sector if we could go about changing this. So we set out to change the conversation around equity and inclusion; to persuade businesses to prioritise it, take action, and provide access to the sector to those from communities that were under-represented in the sector.

Over that time, we’ve worked with government, industry bodies and many of the UK’s biggest creative companies to bring in new talent and create more inclusive workplaces. I’m so proud of what we have achieved in the last decade; our impact can be felt in all corners of the creative industries. We’ve helped thousands of people find quality paid roles that genuinely impact on both the output and bottom line of the UK’s creative economy.

When we started back in 2012, it was rare to meet someone who wasn’t from a privileged background working in the sector. Although we’ve seen great progress in the last ten years, the fact we still use language around ‘under-representation’ shows how far we still have to go. Many people are still facing visible and invisible barriers to accessing and progressing in the industry – from financial obstacles to racism – which we continue to work hard to help them overcome.

Global events over the past few years have made our work more relevant than ever. Organisations – big and small – are finally seeking to bring in and nurture individuals from communities that continue to be under-represented across the creative economy. Creative Access has seen a huge growth in the volume of companies wanting to work with us.

This all means that Creative Access now needs two different senior people who can really focus on their own role. Firstly, a CEO who will inspire and lead the organisation, evolve our business model to drive commercial growth, and take Creative Access to the next level – while remaining true to our mission as a social enterprise. And secondly, someone with the time and experience to focus on our social mission, devising innovative and impactful strategies with longstanding and new partners to really deliver long term change to the creative industries.

It’s with this in mind that I have decided it’s time to pass on the overall responsibility of growing Creative Access to a new CEO and move my focus to overseeing the development of new and existing partnerships and building on our social mission. To that end, once the new CEO is in post, I will become Executive Chair of Creative Access. Over the last few years, my work has bridged both roles, but now is the right time to split them across two people. So I am stepping aside as CEO, and we are seeking someone exceptional to take on that role.

In this – our 10th anniversary year – and in unprecedented times, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve diversity and inclusion across the creative economy and to support thousands more talented individuals from communities currently under-represented in the sector to enter and thrive in their careers. The world is catching up with our passion for diversity and inclusion; our profile is high, and demand for our services is growing. For the right person, it’s the chance to turn this global interest into future business and join our brilliant team in taking Creative Access into its new phase of growth.”

If you are interested in the role of Creative Access CEO, take a look at our application pack and send your covering letter and CV to Shehrazade Zafar-Arif at shehrazade.zafar@society-search.com by Friday, 11 February 2022

Andrew Kersley has reported our research that out of 250, mostly younger journalists from under-represented backgrounds, only 26% described themselves as financially stable compared to more than twice that – 55% – who were in May 2020.

He continued that “65% of respondents reported that improving their mental health was a priority in the coming year, compared to more financial incentives such as finding a permanent job (60%) or getting a pay rise (13%)”.

Read the full findings in the Press Gazette.

Georgia Snow in The Stage has highlighted our research into impact of Covid-19 on under-represented communities within the creative sector, explaining that: “Theatre workers are prioritising their mental health over increased financial stability as they enter 2022”.

Read the full article in The Stage.

Our recent research regarding the impact of Covid-19 on under-represented groups in the creative industries, particularly within the publishing industry, has been featured in an article by Adam Rowe in Forbes Magazine.

“Data out from the London-based diversity organization Creative Access and reported on by The Bookseller this month compares responses from a December 2021 survey against the same survey results from May 2020. The respondents were a cohort of 250 people in creative industries, most of whom were from under-represented groups. One and a half years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the results suggest, have taken a big toll.”

Read the article in full here.

To coincide with our ten year anniversary, we are today releasing new research showing the impact of covid-19 on people working in the creative industries. It particularly highlights the impact on those from communities under-represented in the sector.

The research was first run in May 2020 and then again in December 2021 to look at changes in financial and job stability, career optimism and sources of income for people working in the creative industries as a result of the pandemic. Our research found:

• Financial stability has declined – in May 2020 53% said they had enough money to live on versus 42% in 2021
• 45% said their mental health had been negatively impacted – rising to 64% amongst those with a disability
• 42% said their ability to save money had been negatively impacted
• 25% said it had negatively impacted their job security
• Over 10% have had to re-locate due to Covid-19 to find work – 48% re-located to London/the South-East showing how important it is for employers to support housing costs in the capital

But there was some positive news:

• A third (33% said their mental health had been positively impacted through greater flexibility and time at home
• A third (36%) said the pandemic had a positive impact in giving them more time for hobbies and interests outside work
• 30% said they felt their creativity had been positively impacted

Two thirds (63%) felt quite or very optimistic about their careers going into 2022. Their top priorities going into 2022 are:

• Improve their mental health – 61% (65% for women, 45% for men)
• Get a permanent job – 41%
• Maintain flexible working – 26%
• To find a paid internship – 22%
• Leave current job for a new opportunity – 20%
• Get a pay rise or promotion – 20%

Since the end of lockdown, 51% have applied for a new role; 46% have started looking for a new role; 39% have started a new role. 7% have received a pay rise and another 7% a promotion in their current roles.

Since 2012, Creative Access has been working to enable people from communities that are under-represented in the creative industries, to access careers, progress and reach leadership. This under-representation may be in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability or those facing significant barriers to employment. Creative Access unique combination of mentoring, training and a progressive approach to recruitment has completely changed the face of many sectors in the creative industries. The organisation has:

• Placed 2,194 individuals in paid internships
• Supported 58,773 candidates with employability skills
• Enabled 2,261 to participate in mentoring programmes
• Delivered 3,319 hours of inclusive employer training

Read about our latest research in PR Week, Forbes and The Stage.

John Harrington has written in PR Week about our findings regarding under-represented groups in the creative industries, that almost 1 in 2 PR creatives feel ‘financially unstable’, which is more than in the early stages of the pandemic. However, many are optimistic for the future, with fewer experiencing job insecurity or mental health problems.

Read in PR Week.

Heloise Wood has written in The Bookseller about our research, coinciding with our 10-year anniversary, revealing the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people from under-represented groups in publishing.

Read in The Bookseller.

Getty Images and Creative Access are pleased to announce a new collaboration to award a USD$5,000 grant to an individual keen to pursue a career in photojournalism.

These Getty Images iStock Creative Grants are being offered globally, with a specific grant of USD$5,000 for the UK (equivalent of approximately £3,655, but this will vary according to currency conversion rates at the time).

Applicants need to submit their portfolio or examples of their work, along with a cover letter outlining the project they wish to be funded. This will be reviewed by a panel made up of members from Getty Images and Creative Access. Selection will be based on the judges’ determination of the applicant’s ability to execute the submitted project with a compelling commercial visual narrative based on either still images or video. The jury will consider the calibre of the portfolio, the project’s merit and the artist’s professional ability. The judges will also be assessing how the submitted projects draw attention to, and depict, underrepresented communities through their commercial photography work.

Candidates will be judged on the strength of their photographic portfolios, and a demonstrated commitment to the field of visual journalism. Applicants need to submit:

• A portfolio/work samples (digital only)
• A short biography and CV
• 200‑500‑word summary of the proposed project and an explanation as to how the project will draw attention to, and depict, under-represented communities through their commercial photography work

• Contact information
• Social media links

Ken Mainardis, Senior Vice President of Content, Getty Images &iStock said: “The first-ever iStock Inclusion Grant series is a continuation of our commitment to foster greater representation and inclusion within the photographic and photojournalism industries. Since Getty Images was founded 25 years ago, our mission has been to move the world with authentic, inclusive visuals which represent the society we live in, and that’s something we feel strongly about for each of our brands, including iStock.”

Josie Dobrin, Chief Executive of Creative Access said: “Creative Access is so thrilled to be partnering again with Getty Images. Commercial photography cannot reflect society, if society is not reflected in commercial photographers. This is as much about business as it is about doing the right thing. We are excited to be able to offer this grant to someone from a community that is currently under-represented in the sector as part of our wider mission to make the creative industries more representative, accessible and inclusive.”

Grant eligibility

Successful applicants will all need to meet the following criteria:

• A photographer/videographer who is EMEA or UK based or a resident
• Not been working professionally for more than three years
• Identifies as Black, Asian or ethnically diverse

Applications close 6th December. Apply here.

The grant has been featured in DiversityQ and Cision.

Creative Access has hired ex-BBC journalist and leading diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, Elonka Soros, into the newly created role of Development Director, working alongside CEO and founder, Josie Dobrin.

The new role will play a key part in the delivery of Creative Access’s mission to make creative organisations more accessible and inclusive and enable people from communities that are under-represented to access, progress and reach leadership in creative roles.

Elonka has a three decade career in the creative sector spanning advertising, publishing, broadcast journalism, multimedia content production, DE&I consultancy and training. She works extensively in Europe with cultural and creative institutions and brings global perspectives and best practice to her work with Creative Access.  Elonka has worked with Creative Access as a consultant for 4 years designing and delivering action plans and training sessions that have helped employers in the creative sector move from words to action on diversity equity and inclusion. Prior to Creative Access, Elonka was a BBC journalist, programme maker and special advisor to Tony Hall, the then Director General of the BBC, where she lead the actions to kick start the corporation’s DE&I activities.

“Elonka is one of the leading DE&I experts in the creative sector and we are thrilled to have her take on this new role of Development Director. DE&I is a constantly evolving and complex space and as we look to the next 10 years of Creative Access, Elonka will play a critical role not only in shaping our own future strategy but continuing to work in close partnership with our clients in the C-suite to make their own organisations more accessible, representative and inclusive,” says Josie Dobrin, CEO and founder, Creative Access.

“There are many organisations that speak of shifting the dial on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the UK’s creative and cultural sectors but none has the impact of Creative Access. The #morethanwords campaign sums up Creative Access’s practical and action focused approach that is yielding results for individual careers and supporting employer partner aspirations to build sustainable, inclusive cultures and outputs. I am excited to take on this new role alongside Josie and the team, to help shape the next 10 years of Creative Access in its continuing mission towards the day when the creative industries reflect society,” says Elonka Soros, Development Director, Creative Access.

Elonka’s new position has been reported in Broadcast, Arts Professional and TV Collective.