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The 2023-24 cohort of Creative Access’ Steering Group has been featured in Book Brunch. The title also reported on the announcement that Cameron Myers and Lizzy Burden, former Steering Group members, have become Creative Access’ newest non-executive directors.

Read here.

Lizzy Burden and Cameron Myers, two former Creative Access Steering Group members, have joined Creative Access’ Board as Non-Executive Directors, Arts Professional have reported.

The appointments come as Creative Access announces 16 creative industry workers and alumni to its Steering Group for 2023-24 following a successful pilot initiative.

Read in full here.

Sian Bayley for The Bookseller has reported on Creative Access alumni Cameron Myers and Lizzy Burden’s appointment as non-executive board directors at Creative Access, as well as the announcement of its 2023-24 Steering Group cohort.

Read about it here.  

Media firm Simons Muirhead Burton sponsor steering group of 16 creative industry stars 

Two former members appointed to Creative Access board 

Creative Access is proud to announce the members of its 2023 – 24 Steering Group. The training programme for future charity trustees once again brings together a group of 16 individuals from the Creative Access community. Showcasing the impact of the programme, two members of the inaugural steering group have also been appointed Creative Access board directors after a rigorous application process; the first alumni of the organisation to do so. 

Leading media firm, Simons Muirhead Burton has joined forces with Creative Access to guide and sponsor the Steering Group. Its involvement includes a financial contribution, hosting the meetings at its cental London office and providing in-house speakers on legal governance. 

Speaking of the firm’s sponsorship, Peter Weiss, who jointly heads the Corporate, Commercial & Finance team at Simons Muirhead Burton and also sits on the Creative Access advisory board said: “There are many synergies between the work and values of both Creative Access and Simons Muirhead Burton. We are delighted to be able to sponsor this important initiative which will create a pipeline of candidates from communities that are under-represented at non-executive level, who will help organisations to innovate, future-proof decision-making and better reflect the organisations in which they serve.” 

Creative Access’s newest non-executive directors commenced their term on 1st November. Cameron Myers, former Creative Access trainee at Hodder & Stoughton and current Commissioning Editor at Penguin General said: “I’m so thrilled and delighted to be joining the Board of Creative Access. I’ve benefitted so much from the organisation’s leadership and impact over the years, so to be able to now feed in to all that Creative Access continues to do on a strategic level is sure to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.” 

Lizzy Burden, who was an intern via Creative Access at The Times in 2017 and is now UK Correspondent at Bloomberg TV, is also joining the board. She said: “Creative Access secured my first opportunity in journalism so it’s an honour to be part of its incredible work to help diverse talent excel at every level of the creative industries. We can’t let representation be a casualty of these challenging economic times. I’m excited to build on the success of the past decade.” 

Josie Dobrin, Executive Chair, Creative Access said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Cameron and Lizzy to our Board. Creative Access has grown rapidly in both its work and its influence over the past few years. It’s extremely exciting to add two such brilliant and skilled people to the organisation – and especially gratifying to have our first alumni on our board as we seek to grow our impact over the coming years, and to create the urgent change required to representation at all levels of the creative industries and culture sector.  

We are also thrilled to have such a phenomenal new group of alumni to our steering group. Our community have a huge amount of skills and energy to offer to leadership teams of commercial and not-for-profit organisations.  All too often job descriptions require applicants to have experience for non-executive roles, so by creating this leadership pathway, we are removing obstacles for progression. We are indebted to Simons Muirhead Burton for their huge and invaluable support of this programme.” 

The two co-chairs of this year’s group are Anderona Cole (former RadioCentre trainee, now External Relations and Public Affairs Officer at Jisc) and Osas Esosa (former intern at the Financial Times and now research analyst at Olsberg SPI). Anderona said:  Anderona said: “Over the years, I have observed how Creative Access has been working tirelessly to help level the playing field and make progress to ensure that those working in the creative sector better reflect society as a whole. I am impressed by the organisation’s willingness to evolve and the determination and wealth of experience held by the individuals who make up this year’s cohort. I am looking forward to working alongside incredibly talented individuals who are united in their desire to bring about positive change.” 

See the full list of this year’s Steering Group here.

Are you a Creative Access alumni keen to supercharge your career?

Why not apply to join our next steering group cohort! Drop a line to our Thrive Team at this link to mark your interest.

Creative Access’ recent research into expectations around ‘what to wear’ in the workplace has been featured across 22 of Reach Plc’s titles. The coverage explained job seekers found vague terms like ‘smart casual’ confusing and almost two-thirds of employees would welcome a clearer dress code.

D&I consultancy Creative Access launch  training programme for under-represented freelance talent supported by law firm Lee & Thompson

Data from leading D&I consultancy Creative Access highlights that freelancers want training and reasonable adjustments to thrive in their careers. 78% of freelancers surveyed said professional training was one of the most important areas employers & industry bodies can support them.

  • 1 in 5 (22%) became a freelancer due to negative experiences in a perm role  
  • Disabled individuals 30% more likely freelancing after negative perm role experience 
  • 54% say they’re offered a day rate or salary below their level 

What is the Thrive Support Programme?

Lee & Thompson, the UK’s leading law firm for the creative industries has partnered with Creative Access to fund 10 places per year over a 3 year period, on a training programme specifically focused on addressing the barriers to progression often faced by mid to senior-level individuals working in the creative industries from under-represented groups.  In this first year, the programme will be specifically focused on freelancers, due to the current climate and the  particular issues facing this group.

Successful participants will gain access to a mentor, as well as networking opportunities and training including topics such as:

  • Developing leadership skills 
  • The power of self-belief 
  • Managing yourself and others 
  • How to build a successful & long-lasting freelance career 
  • Financial literacy

This year’s scheme is aimed at those who are at mid to senior career level from under-represented groups who are currently freelancing, who are keen grow their network and skillset. Future funding in to 2024 will go towards the development of a career development programme for senior professionals working in the creative industries from historically under-represented backgrounds.

Notes to editors: 

Patrick Jowett of Arts Professional has highlighted recent research from Creative Access which found the number of people from backgrounds underrepresented in the creative industries that don’t apply for jobs because of financial constraints is increasing.

The article also focused on Creative Access’ response to the findings in its relaunch of its third Career Development Bursary, supported by McLaren Racing.

Read in full here.

Heloise Wood for The Bookseller has reported that the Creative Access Career Development Bursary, in partnership with McLaren Racing, is now open as research indicates how financial barriers are affecting those trying to work in publishing. Wood writes:

“Around 85% of publishing respondents said financial barriers have prevented them from applying to a job while 59% in publishing believe financial barriers greatly impact their career progression.”

Read in full here.

Book Brunch has reported on Creative Access’ recent research highlighting the impact of the cost of living crisis on people from under-represented backgrounds progressing in the creative industries, specifically the publishing industry. The findings coincide with Creative Access’ relaunch of its Career Development Bursary in partnership with McLaren Racing.

Read the article.

Creative Access x McLaren Racing Career Development Bursary launches for a third year

The UK’s economic crisis is reaching a breaking point for those from under-represented backgrounds looking to access or progress in the creative economy. As creative job cuts increase, 82% of those working and aspiring to work in the creative industries name the cost of living crisis as a significant barrier to accessing roles, according to new research from Creative Access, the leading social enterprise in progressive career development & support, who is today launching its third Career Development Bursary, supported by long-standing partner McLaren Racing.

The Bursary is a fund aimed at supporting talent from communities under-represented in the creative industries in terms of ethnicity, disability and lower socio-economic status, who aspire to work, or progress their career, in the creative industries, but who are currently held back from doing so because of financial barriers. Applications are now open for eligible individuals here.

Financial barriers to creative careers

Creative Access surveyed individuals in its community working in or looking to pursue a career in the creative industries to examine how financial barriers impact career progression. The results demonstrate how crucial the Bursary will be to enabling people from under-represented groups to access and progress in the sector. Key findings show:

  • The majority of respondents (82%) have not applied for jobs because of financial barriers, an increase of 5% since 2021
  • 57% say financial barriers are a significant threat to their creative career progression
  • The top three financial barriers when applying for jobs are: commuting costs (24%) unaffordable living costs (24%) and being without funds to re-locate (15%)

Bursary impact

Over 80% of participants of last year’s Creative Access x McLaren Racing Bursary agreed that the fund had helped them to access new opportunities. And the fund was able to enhance the creative careers of individuals who used the support for numerous essential career-boosting causes, such as:

  1. Tech/equipment (47%)
  2. Training (22%)
  3. Driving lessons (13%)
  4. Living/studio/relocation costs (10%)
  5. Creative project funding/award submissions (8%)

Participants from 2022’s fund explained how the support had altered their career trajectory in the creative industries: 

  • “This bursary is potentially life changing for me. It has allowed me to rent my first studio where I will create and expand the work I make as an artist”. Terna, 2022 bursary recipient
  • ”It has given me the tools, affirmation and confidence to jump into being a freelancer. It feels as though I’ve been given a serious chance at a leap forward.” Freelance design professional
  • ”As a disabled person the bursary was super helpful in terms of confidence and creating ways to make my business more accessible.” Freelance website design professional
  • “I went from being stagnant with my creativity to flourishing.” Visual artist

Kate O’Hara-Hatchley, Head of Diversity, Early Careers and Development, McLaren Racing – to be updated for 2023

“Here at McLaren Racing, we have a strong belief that everyone should have access to the same resources and opportunities within our industry, regardless of financial status or background.  

“We’re proud to partner with Creative Access on this bursary as part of McLaren Racing Engage, our flagship DE&I programme, which aims to tackle the STEM skills shortage, address systemic inequalities and find new ways to open pathways into motorsport careers. We have set ourselves the ambition of becoming one of the most inclusive teams in sport. Driving an inclusive and diverse team is an ongoing process, but something we are committed to for the long-term along with partners like Creative Access. Together, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of creative talent within our sport and remove the barriers.”

Bibi Hilton, CEO, Creative Access

“We’re disappointed – but sadly unsurprised – to see the confirmation of what we see and hear all too often from our community: that financial barriers exclude those from historically minoritised communities from accessing roles and progressing in the creative industries. At Creative Access, our mission to break down these barriers, which is why we are proud to be able to continue to provide this Bursary with our long-standing partners McLaren Racing to give funding to individuals from under-represented communities as they progress in their careers and help to shape the future of our industry”.

Bursary application information

To apply for the 2023 Bursary, individuals must be over the age of 18, eligible to work in the UK, identify as being from an under-represented group in the creative industries and demonstrate financial need. Within their application, individuals must communicate:

  • An aspiration to work in/develop their career in the creative economy
  • A clear idea of what they would spend the Bursary on & how it would contribute to their career development 
  • Evidence of expected costs

Apply here

ITV Academy and Creative Access to host October showcase at ITV’s MediaCityUK Studios, Prolific North reports.

Diversity social enterprise Creative Access is tapping into the thriving creative community in Greater Manchester and partnering with ITV Academy to host its next creative industries showcase event in person at ITV Studios in Salford.

On October 12, attendees can hear from professionals living and working in the Greater Manchester area spanning TV, marketing, social & creative communications and publishing. The panellists will share insight into their career journeys and advice on how to find your own creative industry pathway and move up the career ladder.

Read the full article here.

Amelia Brand has covered a recent study conducted by Creative Access shedding light on the challenges faced by job seekers, particularly those from underrepresented groups, due to a lack of clear workplace and job interview dress codes and guidance.

Read the piece in full here.