Creative Workforce for the Future FAQs

Watershed has just had a call out for opportunities (now closed) that are part of Creative Workforce for the Future a new programme by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and the European Social Fund (ESF) which enables talented young people to gain the experience required to sustain creative careers in sectors such as film, broadcast, digital production, animation and post-production.

Creative Workforce for the Future is a positive action programme which means we specifically invited applications from those not currently widely represented within the creative industries in the region. The opportunities were therefore only open to those who are:

• 18-30 years old
• Who are either from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, or someone with a disadvantaged socio-economic background,* or both.

* we asked applicants to think about the type of school they attended at age 11-16, whether they had free school meals, if they are or were a carer, if their parents went to uni, what their parents did when they were 14, and what their housing situation was like when they were aged 11–16.

Please find further contextual information about the programme below. Please contact communications@watershed.co.uk if you have any further thoughts.

What is positive action?

Positive action is a range of measures allowed under the Equality Act 2010 which can be lawfully taken to encourage and train people from under-represented groups to help them overcome disadvantages and engage in specific activities like recruitment from an equitable position. It can be used to meet a group’s particular needs, lessen a disadvantage they might experience or increase their participation in a particular activity.

Why did you design this scheme?

The scheme responds to demand from both the sector and new talent, backed up by statistics around participation and employment.

National reports from bodies like The Work Foundation and the Creative Industries Federation have highlighted the lack of diversity in the creative and cultural workforce. It is also well documented that the current apprenticeship model does not work well for the dynamics of our sector. Creative Workforce for the Future aims to overcome these issues by offering a flexible and bespoke programme of professional development for companies and paid placements for young people.

The city of Bristol is committed to reducing inequality and ensuring people from all backgrounds can participate in our thriving creative economy. The sector also tells us that small companies with limited HR resource struggle to identify and welcome talent from diverse backgrounds but know that it is vital to ensure they remain relevant and innovative.

Our existing programmes and projects have identified that there are many talented young people from under-represented backgrounds who struggle to find a route in to a creative career. Young people who are recruited tell us that companies are not always equipped or ready to welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds.

This pilot programme addresses these specific inequalities by supporting both companies and trainees to upskill, connect and make a step change - which will deliver inclusive growth for the region.

What evidence do you have there is a need to undertake this scheme?

The Go West Report: Bristol’s Film and Television Industries states that in Bristol, ‘The overwhelming majority of freelancers identified as White; the proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) freelancers was only 2.6%’. It goes on to say, ‘The film and television sector in Bristol also faces significant challenges about its lack of diversity. Representation of black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people and people from working class backgrounds is below the national average’.

Many national reports also evidence the lack of diversity within the creative sector more broadly such as:

• A Skills Audit of the UK Film and Screen Industries
• Panic! Social class, taste and inequalities in creative industries
• Creative Industries Federation: Creative Diversity - The state of diversity in the UK’s creative industries, and what we can do about it.

There are already entry level schemes of this kind – why doesn’t this scheme address positive action at middle management and leadership level?

We agree that inclusion needs to happen at all levels, this programme responds to a specific funding opportunity which has specific criteria to deliver traineeships.

This programme is delivered alongside a suite of other work by the partners which seeks to support better representation at other experience levels. Our work includes Bristol and Bath Creative R&D’s Inclusion Fellowships, which set out to grow thought and industry leadership over time.

Why are you focusing on these groups and not others?

This is a pilot programme. Going forward we aim to broaden the groups we are working with and are particularly aware that disabled people face significant barriers to being included within the industry.

Young person XXX doesn’t qualify for this scheme – why aren’t you helping them?

This programme is part of a suite of talent development programmes available through Watershed. Other opportunities include Pervasive Media Studio residencies, Rife Magazine, BFI Film Academy, BFI South West Hub and Bristol and Bath Creative R&D.

What are you trying to achieve?

Creative Workforce for the Future aims to deliver a step change in workforce diversity and future resilience of the sector through:

• increased experience of creative industries careers among young people who are currently disadvantaged in the sector
• an expanded, skilled talent pool
• a sustainable network of businesses and talent, supporting representative recruitment, skills and training across the region

How did you decide the partners?

The core delivery partners are existing members of Network for Creative Enterprise, a programme to develop economic sustainability in new and diverse creative talent in the West of England. Network for Creative Enterprise is led by University of the West of England and Watershed with hubs at The Guild Bath, Knowle West Media Centre, Spike Island and Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio.

We will also build on the partnership work we do through Rife Magazine who regularly work in partnership with schools, colleges, community organisations to run creative workshops and undertake talent development.

How have you consulted to make sure this scheme is appropriate?

Before designing the scheme we commissioned independent research and consulted the sector to ensure our approach was relevant. We consulted with national bodies like Creative Access who run a similar scheme to ensure we are following best practice. By working in partnership with other organisations we ensure a diversity of perspective and community engagement.

How will you review this scheme?

Led by University of the West of England researchers, we will use a mixture of data capture and interviews to ensure we are meeting the aims of the scheme, and contributing to best practice around inclusive talent development, training and retention.

The pilot aims to engage a minimum of 36 SMEs. Monitoring will also record the number of trainees and placements, the number of SME staff participating in training programmes and young people participating in events, work experience and the wider network.

Why is Watershed undertaking this work?

A key Watershed value is inclusive, which we believe to be our civic and social responsibility. We also believe that to realise the true potential of the creatives and audiences we work with, we should draw from the widest possible range of people and support them to engage with people with different experiences (cultural background, ethnicity, discipline, age etc). Our work is therefore curated to programme and value difference.

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