Talent, Not Background

The creative industries are one of the UK's greatest success stories, a sector that shapes cultural influence around the world while contributing over £145 billion to our national economy. That success depends on the people who sustain it -- today's workforce and the next generation coming up behind them.

For too many young people, getting a foot in the door of the creative industries remains one of the hardest parts of the journey. According to the government's own commissioned research, 1 in 3 young people say they are interested in creative careers, yet nearly half of those who show an interest in the industry are unsure of the skills required. Unpaid internships, informal 'who you know' networks, and a lack of visible entry points shut young people out. As a result, the whole sector loses out on perspectives, ideas and experiences that drive innovation, broaden representation and enrich lives, culture and society. This is both an equity and a talent issue, and increasingly a business risk. Employers who don't invest in the pipeline now will find themselves competing for a shrinking, less diverse talent pool later, at a time when the sector's global competitiveness depends on exactly the opposite.

Closing that gap is exactly what Futures for All was built to do. As the UK's leading social mobility charity, dedicated to levelling the playing field for young people in state education, our job is to ensure the sector's future talent isn't limited to those who already have a way in. We are proud to lead the consortium trusted to deliver the new Discover Creative Careers programme, a next-generation initiative designed to connect young people, educators and employers across the creative industries at a scale and depth the sector hasn't seen before, funded by the UK government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Discover Creative Careers will connect young people directly with the industry insight, pathways and employers they need to build a creative career. This is our chance to build something lasting -- an initiative that removes the practical barriers and closes the skills gap keeping young talent out. In practice, that means building strong relationships between schools, colleges and employers through our extensive network; creating structured skills-based work experience and inspirational opportunities; and broadening young people's horizons for what's possible for their future. For the creative industries, it means meeting the sector's rising demand for skills and innovation and securing the UK's competitive edge on a global scale.

The creative sector's future talent is out there. Discover Creative Careers exists to find and nurture it, but that only works with partners on the ground. If you're an educator, help us identify and champion the young people who'd benefit from these opportunities. If you're an employer, open your doors through meaningful work experience and inspirational talks, and invest now in the workforce your business will need tomorrow. If you're a creative leader, young people want to hear from you directly.

Talent, not background, should decide who gets a career in the creative industries.

By Nick Brook, CEO, Futures For All