Addressing Class Disparity in the UK's Film and Television Sectors
The Screen Industries, a significant contributor to the UK economy with over £20bn in GVA and employing over 200,000 people, is facing challenges related to diversity, particularly in terms of race, gender, disability, and social class. A comprehensive study by the Production Ethnography Collective (PEC), in partnership with ScreenSkills and the British Film Institute (BFI), has shed light on these issues, focusing on the impact of social class on opportunities, access, and mobility within the sector.
The research reveals that people from working-class backgrounds are significantly under-represented in the UK Screen, with only one in four of the workforce coming from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This disparity is particularly pronounced in creative roles, including Writers, Producers, Arts Officers, and Directors.
The study identifies 12 points at which people from a working-class background are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to entering and progressing in work in the screen sector. These structural barriers include limited access to careers activities and higher education, as well as favouritism towards middle- and upper-class entrants in networking opportunities and unpaid internships.
Professor Dave O'Brien, a Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at The University of Manchester, led the research. He emphasizes the need for an industry-wide approach to measurement and targets for socio-economic diversity. The research also underlines the importance of investing in interventions that support progression to bring forward diverse future leaders.
Dr Olivia Gable, a Policy Analyst at the Work Foundation, and Heather Carey, the Director of Work Advance, have also highlighted the need for action. The survey of employers in the UK's creative industries, commissioned by the Creative Industries Council, supports these calls, detailing the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK.
Long-term commitment will be required to effect real change in the Screen sector. The research underscores that addressing these class imbalances is not just a matter of fairness, but also a strategic imperative for the continued growth and success of the UK's Screen Industries. As the sector continues to evolve and expand, it is crucial that it remains diverse and representative of the wider population.
- The study conducted by the Production Ethnography Collective, in partnership with ScreenSkills and the British Film Institute, has highlighted the significant under-representation of people from working-class backgrounds in the UK's Screen Industries.
- The researchers identified 12 structural barriers that make it difficult for individuals from working-class backgrounds to enter and progress in the screen sector, including limited access to education and networking opportunities.
- Professor Dave O'Brien, a leading cultural and creative industries expert, emphasizes the need for an industry-wide approach to setting and meeting targets for socio-economic diversity in the Screen Industries.
- Dr Olivia Gable and Heather Carey, both policy analysts, have also called for action to address the class imbalances in the screen sector, citing the need for a diverse workforce for the continued growth and success of the industry.
- The survey of employers in the UK's creative industries, commissioned by the Creative Industries Council, supports these calls, detailing the need for investments in interventions that support progression and bring diverse future leaders to the fore.
- Addressing these class imbalances is not just a matter of fairness, but also a strategic imperative for the continued growth and success of the UK's Screen Industries.
- As the Screen Industries continue to evolve and expand, it is crucial that they remain diverse and representative of the wider population to ensure sustainable growth and success.
- In addition to addressing class imbalances, it is also important for the Screen Industries to consider sustainable living, home-and-garden, and other aspects of lifestyle as they grow and develop, in order to create a vibrant and thriving sector for all.
