BBC Studios Production has announced plans to improve diversity and inclusion including a commitment to a minimum 20% of on and off screen talent to be either BAME, have a disability or come from a low income background.
The ‘Inclusion Rider’ means that on all new BBC Studios Production’s there will be a minimum target of 20% of on-screen talent and production teams coming from a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, having a lived experience of a disability, or being from a low-income background.
There will also be an additional commitment to a target of at least one senior role on scripted and unscripted production teams being appointed from one of these backgrounds.
BBC Studios is also funding a new year-long Trainee Assistant Producer Programme (TAPP) to develop the next generation of content-makers. There will be a mentoring programme with ScreenSkills aimed at under-represented talent at Assistant Producer or Script Editor level or above as well as the creation of a short film for schools covering all the behind the camera roles in drama, entertainment and factual to inspire them to pursue a career in the TV industry.
The Inclusion Rider will apply to every new commission from the business’s scripted and unscripted teams across Drama, Comedy, Factual, including the Natural History Unit, Factual Entertainment and Entertainment.
Ralph Lee, BBC Studios’ Director of Content says: “As the UK’s biggest producer of content, my ambition has always been that BBC Studios Production leads the way in levelling the playing field for anyone wanting to join and thrive in our industry. These initiatives are by no means a magic bullet and we’re also doing a lot of work on culture and education to make our teams more inclusive. The talent in front of and behind the camera will give perspectives that will shape our content, making it more authentic and universal in its depiction of our audiences – and ultimately its appeal with them.”
LGBTQ+ talent also form part of the on-screen Inclusion Rider commitment but not off-screen teams as BBC Studios Production has already exceeded this target.
BBC Studios diversity data, including separate lines for Production and Distribution, are published as part of the BBC Annual Report. In addition, the Inclusion Rider’s progress will also be recorded via industry methods such as Diamond.
Alongside these steps to underpin creative diversity, BBC Studios is also developing a Diversity & Inclusion Plan to lay out how it will continue to build a more inclusive workplace, to be launched globally in January 2021.
Jon Creamer
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