Advanced Television has covered Creative Access’ announcement of its most recent Career Development Bursary recipients: 49 creatives will receive vital funding to cover equipment, training, travel, and other career-critical costs. The highest number of applications came from creatives working in TV & film.

The coverage featured a testimonial from recipient Noor Kabbanian, an aspiring Film & TV freelancer based in Scotland who will be using the funding to attend the National Film and Television ‘Under-represented Voices Writing Lab’. On receiving the Bursary, Noor said: “As a Global Majority creative, this amazing bursary has allowed me to participate in a course aimed at teaching under-represented screenwriters how to navigate the industry and empower their artistic visions”.

Read: Funding demand hits record high for under-represented creatives

Mid-level talent face deep financial challenges to career progression as Creative Access announce recipients of Career Development Bursary, supported by WME & McLaren Racing  

Creative Access, the UK’s leading diversity, equity & inclusion social enterprise has announced that 49 creatives will receive vital funding to cover equipment, training, travel, and other career-critical costs. A record-breaking surge in demand for financial support has exposed the growing crisis facing talent from under-represented groups in the UK’s creative industries. 

Now in its fourth year, the Creative Access Career Development Bursary – generously supported this year by WME and McLaren Racing’s Engage Programme – received over 1,000 applications, a three-fold increase from last year. McLaren Racing has worked with Creative Access since 2021 as part of its McLaren Racing Engage Alliance to open up pathways in motorsports careers.  

The spike in demand reveals that financial barriers are preventing aspiring, junior and mid-level creatives from breaking into and progressing in the industry. Recent data from Creative Access showed that 81% of respondents cite financial constraints, including commuting and living costs, as obstacles to applying for new roles.  

Recipients of the Bursary span the UK and represent a broad range of creative sectors, from publishing to TV & film, theatre, visual arts, music and fashion. The majority (35%) of Bursary recipients are at mid-level in their careers, revealing the struggles that experienced and skilled talent – who have successfully carved out careers over the past decade – are now facing in progressing their careers and staying in the creative sector. 

The steep rise in Bursary applications demonstrates the intersectionality of the challenge for creatives. Those from lower socio-economic backgrounds (71%) and/or those from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds (70%) made up the majority of applications, and disabled talent equated for nearly half of all applicants (47%). This increase in demand for funding is the result of longstanding inequalities in the sector: 90% of the arts workforce are white (PEC), whilst the number of working-class creatives has halved since the 1970s (ONS). The disability employment gap also remains large; in 2024, only 53% of disabled people were employed compared to 81.6% of non-disabled people (ONS). 

Geography also plays a part. While London remains the UK’s largest creative hub, its high living costs continue to squeeze out talent from under-represented groups. Over half (52%) of all applicants were based in the capital, reflecting both the concentration of creative jobs and the financial barriers involved with sustaining a career there. Across the UK’s creative hubs, getting access to funding, support and networks to grow a creative career is a barrier for talent at all stages. The Bursary has been awarded to recipients across the UK, including Scotland, South East, South West, North East, North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, and Yorkshire and the Humber.  

The highest number of applications came from creatives working in: 

1. Film & TV 

2. Music  

3. Art  

4. Theatre  

5. Publishing  

Each successful applicant will receive a grant between £250 and £1,000, enabling them to advance their careers. Uses for the bursary include: 

• Essential equipment such as laptops, software and cameras  

• Driving lessons to access opportunities 

• Travel and commuting costs 

• Training courses 

• Rent and living expenses 

Leon Clowes, is a mid-level musician studying a PhD, using the funding towards travel and accommodation to attend a music workshop leadership course. They said: “As an older artist in addiction recovery, this chance to join New Note Orchestra’s first community music leadership scheme is game-changing. Being with peers who share my experiences is unparalleled. Huge thanks to Creative Access for making my participation possible through the bursary – this opportunity means everything.” 

Louisa Agyei is a student aspiring to work in fashion, using the Bursary for an iPad to develop her collection. On receiving the funding, she said: “Opportunities like the Creative Access Bursary are essential, especially for under-represented communities like mine. Due to financial limitations, many of us are forced to abandon our artistic pursuits in favour of other jobs just to survive, which also restricts our creative growth. Support like this is crucial, it not only provides the necessary resources but also empowers and encourages people of colour to pursue careers in the arts without feeling limited by a lack of resources.”  

Mel Rodrigues, CEO at Creative Access: 

“This upsurge in demand for financial support is our strongest wake-up call yet. We are at serious risk of losing a critical mass of excellent creatives who help make our sector world-class – as well as failing to create a robust future pipeline – if financial barriers to entry and progression are not addressed. Creativity should not be a privilege and financial interventions like the Bursary are a vital step to ensuring that talented people – from all backgrounds and parts of the UK – are able to access the resources they need to progress and thrive in our industry. Now more than ever, we need to come together as a sector to deliver more consistent and scalable solutions to the financial lock-out”. 

Sagina Shabaya, Senior Director, Impact, Inclusion & Advocacy, EMEA at WME: 

“We believe in the importance of championing the next generation of artists and continue to support organisations that help to democratise access and break down barriers so that all creatives have the ability to be discovered. We’re proud to support Creative Access Career Development Bursary recipients and the work they continue to do to create a diverse and thriving industry.”  

Kim Wilson, Director of Sustainability at McLaren Racing: 

“We are thrilled to announce another year collaborating with Creative Access, which has been a key partner in our Engage Alliance since 2021 as part of the team’s flagship DE&I programme. Through the launch of these initiatives, we can open pathways and break down some of the barriers to working in industries like motorsport, supporting talented individuals through their journey. We want to pioneer equal access and set the benchmark for diversity and inclusion in sport and programmes like this are helping us to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to start up in the industry.” 

About the Bursary

• The Creative Access Career Development Bursary launched in 2021 and has supported 172 creatives to date 

• McLaren Racing has worked with Creative Access since 2021 as part of the team’s flagship DE&I programme, McLaren Racing Engage, which was launched to open pathways into motorsport careers and support talent from under-represented communities. 

Creative Access’ CEO, Mel Rodrigues, has been featured in HR Magazine’s ‘Lessons from the C-Suite’ discussing her career path, inspirations, and what HR professionals need to enter the C-suite.

Read ‘Lessons from the C-suite: Mel Rodrigues, Creative Access‘.

Two members of Creative Access staff, and one of Creative Access alumni, have been interviewed by Kuba Shand-Baptiste for her piece in The i Paper on Gen Z’s boundaries and making friends in the workplace.

Read in full.

Creative Access and David Tebbutt Trust honour former Faber director with new internship, reports Heloise Wood in The Bookseller.

The David Tebbutt Trust and Creative Access have announced a new internship fund in memory of the late David Tebbutt, finance director at Faber, who was killed in Kenya in 2011.

It will support smaller regional publishers who might otherwise not be able to host a trainee. The internship will be funded by the David Tebbutt Trust, which is jointly administered by Faber and the Tebbutt family.

The fund will provide 100% of the cost of an intern’s training bursary or salary based on the Real Living Wage for a six-month full-time traineeship once a year for three years. It will also cover all costs relating to the recruitment and training of successful candidates.

Read the full article here.

Creative Access and David Tebbutt Trust have set up a new publishing internship fund, in honour of the late David Tebbutt, Financial director at Faber.

Read the full article here.

The David Tebbutt Trust and Creative Access have announced a new internship fund in memory of the late David Tebbutt, Finance Director at Faber from 2002 until his untimely death in September 2011. 

The Fund will provide 100% of the cost of an intern’s training bursary or salary based on the Real Living Wage for a 6-month full-time traineeship once a year for three years. It will also cover all costs relating to the recruitment and training of successful candidates. 

The Fund aims to encourage young people from historically marginalised backgrounds to pursue a career in publishing. This means that successful trainees will identify as being from an under-represented group in the creative industries, including, but not limited to, Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. 

It will support smaller regional publishers who might otherwise not be able to host a trainee. The internship will be funded by the David Tebbutt Trust, which is jointly administered by Faber and the Tebbutt family.  

Oliver Tebbutt, the late David Tebbutt’s son and David Tebbutt Fund Trustee said:  

“We are very pleased to announce the David Tebbutt Internship. My father was dedicated to publishing and the book trade and was passionate about supporting people from all backgrounds to pursue careers in the sector. I know it would make him extremely happy and I hope it can help people from under-represented communities enter the industry that he loved.” 

Josie Dobrin, Executive Chair of Creative Access, said:  

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the David Tebbutt Trust to create much-needed entry roles in the publishing industry for people from marginalised communities; a Fund which honours David and is fitting to his memory. We are particularly pleased to be funding small to medium-sized organisations where this grant can have more impact and to be focusing on regional companies where there are fewer opportunities to enter the book sector.” 

The process of recruiting candidates for the traineeship will be undertaken by Creative Access. Successful interns will be paid the Real Living Wage and will join the Creative Access Springboard programme, including training, networking and peer support. 

Any organisations wishing to apply can download an application form here. The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Monday 17 February 2025.

The Fund has placed over 50 interns in publishing, theatre and music traineeships 

The Mo Siewcharran Fund has announced its latest four grant awards: immersive theatre company, Punchdrunk Enrichment; theatre publishers and performing arts agents, Nick Hern Books; national poetry charity, Forward Arts Foundation; and Leicester-based arts charity, Soft Touch Arts. 

In its sixth year, the Mo Siewcharran Fund continues to support a breadth of creative organisations in its mission to enable people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds to break into publishing, theatre and music.  

The Fund was set up in memory of Nielsen Books’ former Director of Marketing and Communications, Mo Siewcharran by her husband, John Seaton; she was passionate about improving accessibility and representation in publishing and theatre. The Fund is administered by Creative Access – a leading social enterprise specialising in diversity and inclusion. 

Including the latest grant awards, since the Fund started in 2018, it will have supported 52 Black, Asian and ethnically-diverse trainees in publishing, theatre and music across the UK. The grants contribute to the salary of an intern for a six-month traineeship and a full programme of support from Creative Access to ensure the trainee thrives in their new role. 

Its impact can be clearly seen across each sector: two-thirds (63%) of interns supported by the Fund stayed on at their host organisation at the end of their traineeship, whilst 9 out of 10 (89%) trainees continued to work in the same sector.  

On this latest round of recipients, the founder of the Mo Siewcharran Memorial Fund, John Seaton said: 

“With this round a happy milestone is passed. Since starting in 2018 the Mo Siewcharran Fund has supported over fifty interns. And it is not stopping here! To add to all the previous wonderful participating companies, it is a delight to welcome these four new ones covering, so stylishly as they do, such a broad area of the Arts: theatre, music, theatre publishing and poetry. Bravo to them; my thanks, as ever, to Creative Access for making it all happen.” 

Punchdrunk Enrichment is a charity creating transformational theatre for education, community and family audiences. On being awarded the Fund, Punchdrunk Enrichment’s Artistic Director, Peter Higgin said: 

“Punchdrunk Enrichment is delighted to be part of the Creative Access Programme, supported by the Mo Siewcharran Fund. As we make our home in Brent, we are committed to ensuring that our staff team, stories we tell and audiences are representative of the communities we serve. This opportunity will allow an individual their first steps into an industry, removing barriers and creating visibility. Programmes like this are vital in supporting our organisation and the wider sector.”  

Forward Arts Foundation is a national charity committed to widening poetry’s audience through grassroots campaigns. Head of Programmes, Jay Bhadricha stated: 

“We are extremely excited to get the Mo Siewcharran Fund grant from Creative Access, which will enable us to welcome a Marketing and Communications Assistant to Forward Arts Foundation. This opportunity will help us champion diverse voices in poetry, support emerging talent while fostering inclusive audiences. With the support and training provided, the Trainee will make a significant contribution to Forward and the sector as a whole.” 

Recipient, Nick Hern Books, are the UK’s leading specialist theatre publishers and performing rights agents with over 1,500 plays and theatre books in its catalogue. Matt Applewhite, Managing Director, commented: 

“We are proud and grateful to receive the support of the Mo Siewcharran Fund, and the brilliant Creative Access, to launch an internship scheme at Nick Hern Books. As a publisher of plays and books about theatre, it is particularly fitting and humbling, given Mo’s passion for both theatre and books. We are committed to publishing work that represents the wonderful diversity of the UK – and equally passionate about breaking down barriers for underrepresented groups working in the creative industries. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first intern in the new year, and excited about the contribution they’ll make as a valued member of our team.” 

Leicester-based Soft Touch Arts has been using creative projects to engage with and transform the lives of young people since 1986. Upon receiving the Fund, Helen Abeles, Co-artistic Director, said: 

“We are delighted to have been offered a grant from the Mo Siewcharran Fund to take on a music intern. This funding will enable us to bring in new talent to support our work with young people whilst fostering the new generation of participatory music leaders.”  

Josie Dobrin OBE, Executive Chair, Creative Access, said: 

“It has been such a joy to work with John on launching and running the Mo Siewcharran Fund. We can be hugely proud of the impact the Fund has already had; with these latest round of grant awards, we will have placed 52 trainees in paid 6 month internships, the length and breadth of the UK – from Edinburgh and Glasgow, to Manchester and Sheffield, to Brighton and Bristol. 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 Fund is once again open for other theatre, publishing or music organisations wishing to support internships for those from under-represented communities.  

The deadline for the next round is midday Thursday 26^th June 2025. Those interested in applying should download the application form here: Mo Siewcharran Fund application form

Matilda Battersby has reported that Creative Access has secured sponsorship from publishers, including Penguin Random House, Sage and Profile Books, to support mid-level freelancers from under-represented backgrounds via sponsored places on a year-long creative development programme. Read the article in full.

17 spaces are available on the Thrive Career Development Programme, aimed at mid-level freelancers from under-represented backgrounds, reports Lucy Nathan at BookBrunch.

• Only 8% of publishing freelancers report having mentorship access, and 1 in 2 feel unsupported by employers 

• Backed by 11 trade and academic publishers, Thrive Career Development Programme provides 17 essential training & support places for minority freelancers  

• Launch supports the Publisher Association’s Work in Publishing Week to boost career growth for diverse talent 

Diversity, equity and inclusion social enterprise Creative Access has secured sponsorship from across the publishing industry to support mid-level freelancers from under-represented backgrounds through sponsored places on its Thrive Career Development Programme. This initiative addresses a significant gap in professional support for freelancers, who provide essential services to the publishing sector yet often lack access to crucial career development resources like training, mentorship and networking opportunities. 

Freelancers are a vital part of the publishing workforce, supporting functions like proofreading, copyediting, design, illustration and sensitivity reading. However, freelancers from minority backgrounds face a significant lack of support: Creative Access’ Freelancer Report 2023 shows that only 19% have received training and just 8% have had a mentor. This is despite 61% wanting to see training from employers and 44% stating mentorship is vital. Half of publishing freelancers (50%) feel unsupported by employers, with 58% citing basic practices such as late payment as a major issue.  

Launching during Work in Publishing Week—a national campaign by the Publisher’s Association to inspire careers in publishing—Creative Access’ Thrive Career Development Programme for mid-level professionals has garnered unprecedented industry support, with sponsorship from trade and academic publishers,  

According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), 32% of jobs in the UK’s creative and cultural industries are self-employed, compared to just 14% across the wider UK economy. Publishing freelancers, like their counterparts in film, television, and the performing arts, are essential to sustaining the UK’s vibrant creative landscape yet often face barriers to support and growth. A 2023 report by Literature Alliance Scotland showed that 93% of freelancers agree that the sector relies on freelancers, however the majority of freelancers (58%) do not feel valued by the sector. This programme aims to address these gaps and empower publishing freelancers to thrive in their careers. 

Josie Dobrin OBE, executive chair & co-founder, Creative Access: “We know how vital freelancers are to the publishing industry, yet many, especially from minority backgrounds, face barriers to career growth and support. It is so gratifying to see key players across the industry come together to collectively address the challenges faced by the freelance community; to promote retention and ensure that all individuals – whatever their background – feel valued and are given the opportunity to thrive.” 

Claire Thomas, director of organisational development & talent at Penguin Random House said: “Penguin Random House is thrilled to support Creative Access’s innovative new programme. Investing in the development of freelancers from under-represented communities will support the industry’s commitment to greater representation and retention, through the development and strengthening of new networks and skills.” 

Kiren Shoman, executive vice president, editorial & global executive lead, DEI at Sage said: “We are thrilled to support the Freelancers Publishers Training Programme as a sponsor. At Sage, we believe in the power of diverse voices. This programme aligns with our commitment to fostering creativity and inclusivity in the publishing industry. We look forward to seeing the valuable impact that will emerge from this initiative.” 

Rebecca Gray, managing director at Profile Books, said: “Creative Access is constantly driving change and coming up with ways to open up our industry, so when Josie asked us to sponsor a place on this scheme we said a very quick ‘yes please!’ Making freelancing accessible is a clever way to look at our diversity initiatives through a new lens and we are very much looking forward to meeting the people who join the programme.” 

The year-long Thrive programme will begin in March 2024 and offers 17 sponsored places for mid-level freelance talent in publishing. Participants will gain access to: 

• Targeted training in key areas such as career sustainability, leadership presence, financial literacy for freelancers, and advocacy skills. 

• Mentorship from senior professionals in the publishing industry, providing six months of personalised career support. 

• Exclusive networking events with publishing partners, offering connections to foster long-term professional relationships and more! 

This opportunity is designed for freelancers with at least six months of experience in the publishing industry, including in roles across editing, design, project coordination, and other key publishing functions. It will include both in-person and online sessions to ensure accessibility to freelancers across the UK. 

Application Information 

• Applications Open: 18 November 2024 

• Deadline: 2 January 2025, 5:00pm

• How to Apply: Freelancers can apply via the Creative Access opportunities board, where they will complete an application form and submit an up-to-date CV, indicating any prior work with the programme’s partner publishers. Link to apply: https://opportunities.creativeaccess.org.uk/job/thrive-development-programmes-freelancers-working-publishing-31401  

For more details about the Thrive Career Development Programme and the application process, visit http://opportunities.creativeaccess.org.uk/ or contact yasmin@creativeaccess.org.uk  

‘Reacting to the announcement of 2024’s Class Pay Gap Day, Yasmin Hemmings, who oversees support programmes for individuals from under-represented backgrounds at social enterprise Creative Access, explains the pay gap is even more acute for ethnically diverse talent.

According to Creative Access research, almost half (48%) of ethnically diverse professionals surveyed report socio-economic bias in hiring and promotions, double that of their white counterparts (24%). A further 40% feel overlooked in their careers due to class, versus 30% of white working class professionals.

“This stark ‘class ceiling’ strongly impacts diversity in leadership. Seeing few others who share their background, working class ethnically diverse professionals face extra hurdles to advance,” says Hemmings.

“This goes beyond fairness – it’s a call for employers to adopt truly inclusive practices that address class and race, as well as disability.”

She argues the introduction of mandatory socio-economic pay gap reporting would help “dismantle” the structural barriers holding talented professionals back.

Member of the Creative Access steering group Jaber Mohamed, director of health comms and PR at MHP Group, identifies connections and money as two of the biggest barriers to entry into the creative industries. 

“Lots of opportunities aren’t advertised, so you need to know the right people to get them. And the PR and comms industry is very concentrated to London, so you need to be able to afford to live here/support yourself to take advantage of those opportunities,” Mohamed notes.

“This is especially difficult if your family can’t support you/help you when you’re starting out.”’

You can read the full article here.