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.
Posted February 5, 2021
Hachette UK is launching a refreshed year-long traineeship programme, in partnership with literary agency Curtis Brown and bookseller Waterstones. Creative Access is working with Hachette UK to attract candidates to the programme from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse groups, or from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Ten trainees will join the publisher in May, and will spend a year specialising in either editorial, marketing and publicity, or rights as well as in central departments such as contracts and sales.
Read the full story on The Bookseller.
Posted December 4, 2020
We are so thrilled and proud that both our CEO Josie Dobrin and our Chair Stephen Page from Faber and Faber are included in the Bookseller150 list of most influential people in publishing, alongside so many of our friends and colleagues. Special mention to our former intern, the brilliant Clarissa Pabi from Acast. You can see the full list here.
Posted on November 11, 2020
Arts Professional was among the first to report on our exciting new board changes.
Creative Access has announced the appointment of Dr. Zoe Whitley, Director of the Chisenhale Gallery, and Ameet Shah, a Strategy Director and Management Consultant, as new Non-Executive Directors. They will help Creative Access continue with its mission to make the creative sectors as diverse and as inclusive as possible.
You can read the full article on Arts Professional.
Posted on 8 September, 2020
Creative Access CEO Josie Dobrin, along with our interns Adam Warburton-Brown (who we placed at the Climate Group) and Danielle Koku (who we placed at Apple) speak with the Financial Times regarding virtual work placements in the current climate. You can read the full article here.